Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-08

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 6.5)

Environmental problems include an array of negative impacts on the earth ranging from the loss of particular plant and animal species to many more. This essay will discuss the other problems alongside the mentioned one with their relative significance.

Contamination of several environmental components has resulted in climate change that in turn has led to the extinction of specific classes of plants and animals. They are of profound importance in our nature. For example, plants provide us with oxygen, without which no animal and human can survive. Again, they are the producers of the food chains, meaning loss of a plant species can disrupt one or more food chains in the ecosystem. This problem can also be caused by the loss of several species that will hinder various food chains. Furthermore, animals can play some other roles in the ecosystem, for instance, the frogs engulf many insects that are detrimental to the crops, thus saving them.

However, plants and animals are not solely important for the nature. There are other environmental issues that also pose threats. To illustrate, polar ice including several vast glaciers is melting owing to global warming. Consequently, many low lands are encountering untimely and devastating floods causing damage to human lives and properties. On the other hand, some other countries are going through droughts. Due to excessive utilization of ground water, the level of it has gone too low and causing dry lands as a result. This phenomenon puts the food supply of human at a great risk.

Although wild life and vegetation are required to balance the harmony of our nature, other environmental components are of same significance to preserve the integrity of the earth. In my opinion, all the living and non-living components of nature should be conserved with equal importance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. The ideas regarding biodiversity loss and other environmental issues like climate change and water scarcity are relevant. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the points about biodiversity are well-supported with examples like frogs and food chains, the discussion of other environmental problems is slightly more general. To reach a higher band, the connection between the 'other' problems and their relative significance compared to biodiversity loss could be more explicitly argued rather than just listed. Overall, the task requirements are met with a clear position maintained throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'For example', 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'To illustrate' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the second paragraph ('This problem can also be caused by...') is a little repetitive. Nevertheless, the progression of ideas is clear, and the essay maintains a consistent focus on the prompt throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You demonstrate the ability to use topic-specific terminology such as 'ecosystem', 'biodiversity', 'detrimental', and 'integrity'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'engulf many insects' (where 'consume' or 'prey on' would be more natural) and 'balance the harmony of our nature' (which is slightly redundant). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the range of vocabulary is adequate to convey your meaning clearly and with some precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and your meaning is always clear. However, there are some persistent minor errors, such as 'plants and animals are not solely important for the nature' (should be 'for nature') and 'the level of it has gone too low and causing dry lands' (which lacks parallel structure and correct verb tense). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching the higher bands where error-free complex sentences are more frequent.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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