Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

It is widely debated that loss of species of flora and fauna is the main problem faced by the ecosystem in the present age while, some people believe that apart from this loss, there are other major issues as well. I agree with the latter opinion, the more innovations we make, the more problems come in our ways.

Undoubtedly, the loss of species is one of the important issue right now. Due to human activities; not only plants and trees, but the habitats of million of birds and mammals have been destroyed. For instance, to avoid mud during rainy days people started to pave over open grounds which resulted in lack of water for the trees in the surrounding areas. Moreover, the rain water was unable to seep in to the soil. To ameliorate the situation, local councils should mandate porous paving.

In terms of danger to loss animal species, the ban on single-use plastic bags should be implemented which is a threat to livestock and marine life as well.

Apart from this environmental issue, their are other factors which are are responsible for the poor environment conditions, namely air and sound pollution which is also due to the activities performed by humans like excessive use of cars, burning plastic and industrial waste is also responsible for it. All these issues are over looked, which will have consequences today and in future as well. For example, in the years 2024 to 2026 a large proportion suffered from eye and lungs diseases. In addition the cases for problem in hearing were also reported.

In conclusion, indeed our plants and animal species are in danger but other problems are also a threat to us in the upcoming years. So, strategies must be introduced to improve the situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you mention the loss of species, the examples provided, such as 'paving over open grounds' to avoid mud, are slightly tangential to the core issue of biodiversity loss. The discussion on other environmental problems like air and sound pollution is relevant, but the supporting evidence, specifically the reference to 'years 2024 to 2026' and the resulting health issues, lacks clarity and feels somewhat speculative. To reach a higher band, ensure that your examples directly support your main points and avoid overly specific, unsubstantiated claims.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In terms of', and 'In conclusion' to link your thoughts. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the transition 'In terms of danger to loss animal species'. Additionally, some sentences are loosely connected, and the referencing could be more precise. Improving the variety and natural flow of your linking words will help create a more cohesive and professional structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'ameliorate', 'biodiversity' (implied), and 'single-use plastic'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'danger to loss animal species' instead of 'danger of losing animal species' and 'poor environment conditions' instead of 'poor environmental conditions'. Some phrasing is also slightly repetitive. To improve, focus on using collocations more accurately and expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary to express complex ideas with greater precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'their are other factors' (should be 'there are'), 'which is also due to' (subject-verb agreement issues), and 'the cases for problem in hearing'. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some issues with comma usage and sentence boundaries. To achieve a higher score, focus on reducing these recurring errors and ensuring that your complex structures are grammatically sound, particularly regarding subject-verb agreement and preposition use.

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