Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Some people think the biggest environmental problem today is the loss of plants and animals. Other people think there are more important problems. In this essay, I will discuss both views and give my opinion.

On the one hand, some people say that losing species is the main problem. Every animal and plant is important for nature. If one animal dies, other animals can also have problems. For example, if bees disappear, we will have problems with fruits and vegetables because bees help plants grow. Also, some plants and animals can help doctors make new medicines. So if they die, we lose this chance. For these reasons, many people think we must protect all species.

On the other hand, other people think there are bigger problems. The biggest problem is climate change. The weather is getting hotter and this causes floods and fires. Another big problem is pollution. Air pollution makes people sick and water pollution makes the water dirty. Also, there is too much plastic in the sea and this kills fish. These problems affect many people every day, so some people think they are more important than saving one animal.

In my opinion, both problems are important. But I think climate change and pollution are more dangerous because they affect the whole world. If we do not solve these problems, more animals will die anyway.

In conclusion, losing species is bad, but I believe that climate change and pollution are the main environmental problems today. We need to work on these problems first.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the role of bees in ecosystems and the broader impact of climate change. However, the development is somewhat basic. While the arguments are clear, they lack depth and specific, nuanced examples that would elevate the response to a higher band. The position is consistent throughout, but the supporting points could be more thoroughly extended to demonstrate a deeper engagement with the complexity of the environmental debate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each view, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices are present, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes a bit mechanical or repetitive. The flow is generally smooth, but the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'ecosystems' (implied), 'climate change', and 'pollution'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and the language is often simple. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise, academic collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of repeating 'big problem' or 'important', the student could use more varied descriptors like 'pressing issue', 'catastrophic', or 'significant threat'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. However, the range of structures is somewhat restricted. The essay relies heavily on straightforward 'subject-verb-object' patterns. To improve, the student should aim to integrate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences (beyond simple 'if' clauses), passive voice, or relative clauses, to demonstrate greater control and flexibility in their writing.

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