Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-22

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 5.0)

The growing influence of environmental problem in modern society has sparked various debates. Few peoples say that loss of particular species of plants and animals is the main environmental problem of our time. Others say that there are many other things are also affecting the environment. In this essay, I will discuss both views and give my opinion with some suitable examples.

On the one hand, few people say that particular species of plants and animals play vital in our environment. Although when animals eat to other animals for food, these things create problems for animals and damage the forest environment. For example, lion is eating the deer for food, but deer are eating the fruit plants for living. Furthermore, people are harvesting plants for manufacturing furniture or other purposes, so animals face oxygen problems because plants are very essential for respiration.

On the other hand, people argue that many other things are also damage environment. Most people are misusing the plastic bags and after using they through into the river, these things create issues for sea animals, and some animals are also killing due to small human mistakes. Moreover, after harvesting the rice crops farmers to burn the field, this thing creates the smog problems during the winter months. For instance, when people are using fewer plastic bags and do not burn the rice or other crops, at this time environmental air is clean from bad chemical, and everything get the fresh air for oxygen.

In conclusion, both points have their own merits. However, I think second point is more important than first view.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the task by discussing the view that the loss of particular species is the main environmental problem, as well as the alternative view that other issues are more pressing. The student also provides a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and superficial. For instance, the arguments regarding animals eating each other and harvesting plants lack depth and precise economic or ecological examples. Furthermore, the examples provided, such as 'lion is eating the deer', are simplistic. While the prompt is addressed, the ideas are under-developed, placing this response securely in Band 5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into four paragraphs with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs presenting opposing views, and a brief conclusion. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed due to mechanical and inadequate cohesive devices. Phrases like 'On the one hand, few people say that' and 'On the other hand, people argue that' are used, but transitions between sentences within paragraphs feel abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'these things create problems' without a precise antecedent. Paragraphing is present and appropriate for a standard essay structure, but overall logical flow suffers, aligning with the Band 5 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, frequently circling around words like 'environmental problem', 'animals', 'plants', and 'harvesting'. There are notable word choice and collocation errors throughout the text, such as 'influence of environmental problem' instead of 'environmental problems', 'few peoples', and 'they through into the river' (spelling error: throw). The range of vocabulary is minimally adequate to communicate the basic argument, but noticeable errors cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the text from reaching a higher band level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The text displays a very limited range of structures, with frequent grammatical errors that often hinder comprehension. Examples of grammatical inaccuracies include 'Few peoples say', 'play vital in our environment' (missing noun), 'when animals eat to other animals', and 'some animals are also killing'. Complex sentence attempts are frequently faulty, such as in the conditional-like structure 'when people are using fewer plastic bags and do not burn... at this time environmental air is clean'. Because errors are frequent and regularly cause difficulty for the reader, a Band 4.0 descriptor is matched most closely here.

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