Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03

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 7.0)

Some people believe that the disappearance of specific plants and animals is the most serious environmental problem today, while others argue that there are more urgent environmental issues. This essay will discuss both viewpoints and explain why I believe that other problems, such as climate change, are more critical.

On the one hand, the loss of biodiversity is a major concern for several reasons. The main reason is that all living things are connected in a food chain. If one specific species of plant or animal becomes extinct, it can disrupt the entire ecosystem. For instance, if important insects like bees disappear, many crops will not be pollinated, which can lead to severe food shortages for humans. Additionally, many wild plants are used to create life-saving medicines, and losing them means losing potential cures for dangerous diseases.

On the other hand, many people argue that there are more pressing environmental issues that need immediate attention. Global warming is arguably the biggest threat because it affects the whole planet directly. Rising global temperatures lead to extreme weather events, such as severe floods, droughts, and intense wildfires, which destroy homes and kill thousands of people every year. Furthermore, pollution is another massive crisis. Plastic waste is destroying marine life, and air pollution in big cities is causing serious respiratory health problems for millions of citizens.

In conclusion, although the extinction of plants and animals is a serious issue because it damages the natural balance, I believe that other problems like climate change and global warming are more important. This is because they pose an immediate threat to human survival and require urgent global action.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly discuss both perspectives—the importance of biodiversity and the urgency of broader environmental issues like climate change—and provide a consistent personal opinion throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the link between biodiversity and food security, and the comparison between extinction and global warming. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by providing a more nuanced view on how these issues are interconnected, rather than treating them as entirely separate problems. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a clear and logical structure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of referencing is accurate, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points while reiterating your stance. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall flow of the argument. The text is easy to follow, and the relationship between sentences is clearly established throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases such as 'disruption of the ecosystem', 'pollinated', and 'respiratory health problems' show a solid command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic academic expressions to demonstrate greater flexibility and precision in your word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your control over grammar is strong, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. You use complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If one specific species... it can disrupt...') and relative clauses, effectively. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To reach the highest band, ensure that you consistently use a wider variety of complex structures and maintain near-perfect accuracy across all sentence types.

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