Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Nowadays, environmental issues are the most in debate topic between different groups people. This is hard to identify which specific problem is the most important. Some people think the loss of some plans and animal species is the major issue while others think that storms, heavy rainfalls , and some other calamities should be the priority.
Firstly, there are millions of plants, animals and humans are living in this world and every creature is important in its own way for the environment. There are numerous researches and articles are available on how important some animals and plants are for our environment which are in danger. Scientists and researchers are working hard to stop the loss of in danger species of some plants and animals. For example, stray cats are not very seen in the urban environment because of the lack of food for them which is resulting in higher number of other animals like mouse. Mousses are everywhere in the streets and residents are concerned about and i have seen multiple house owners petting a cat just to get rid of Mousses.
In the other hand, a large group of people insist their life is more important then animals and plants and they prioritize it by protecting themselves from heavy rainfalls or scorching heat. For instance, Japan has large number of projects just to prevent there citizens from earthquakes.
In my opinion, environmental problems are man made and along with human beings some animals, plants and sea creatures are also suffering from this. We need to equally give importance to every creature and play out part in fight against the harsh environment.
To conclude, Every in-danger species of plants and animals is the major issue because we can protect ourselves from other natural calamities with the help of technological advancement but we cannot give rebirth to any lost creature.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The example regarding stray cats and mice is not directly relevant to the broader environmental issue of species extinction, which weakens the argument. The discussion on natural disasters in the second body paragraph is also a bit tangential to the core debate. To improve, ensure that every example directly supports the main point about biodiversity loss versus other environmental threats. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack depth and academic focus.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly', 'In the other hand', and 'To conclude', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or misused, such as 'In the other hand' (should be 'On the other hand'). Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal structure of the arguments needs more refinement to ensure a logical progression of ideas throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several word-choice errors, such as 'in debate topic' (should be 'most debated topic'), 'plans' (meant 'plants'), and 'in danger species' (should be 'endangered species'). The use of 'Mousses' is incorrect; the plural of mouse is 'mice'. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary, the inaccuracies in word formation and collocation occasionally impede the clarity of the message. A wider range of academic vocabulary would improve the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'there are millions of plants... are living' (incorrect verb structure), 'there citizens' (should be 'their citizens'), and 'play out part' (should be 'play our part'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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