Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-23

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 believe that the core environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals, while others think that there are more crucial natural problems. Although the loss of biodiversity can lead to catastrophic effects, the degradation of nature apart from loss of species is far more hazardous.

On the one hand, saving species of plants and animals from extinction is essential for biodiversity and maintaining the ecological balance and food cycle. The loss of certain species leads to disturbance in natural food cycle and can affect other organisms. Moreover, some plant and animal species are also important to humans, as they provide us with food, medicines, fiber, and many such things. Extinction of such species will also effect daily lives of human beings.

On the other hand, there are greater number of issues which need to be taken in account to really save the environment. Firstly, some of the major contributing factors in extinction of species are climate change, globalization, and human intervention in forest areas. As animals are deprived of their home and living habitat, this reduces their population and ultimately lead to extinction. Secondly, due to constant urbanization, pollution levels in the air and water are increasing at an alarming rate, due to which it leads to respiratory, air borne, or digestive diseases which are hazardous. Furthermore, extinction of species is the result of problems that humans have created through development. By solving such issues, the challenges in saving endangered species will be addressed indirectly.

To conclude, though extinction issues are addressed by people, greater priority should be allotted to problems created by man, which will result in improvements to both the difficulties.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on environmental problems and presenting a clear personal opinion. The writer considers the perspective that losing species is the core crisis, noting its importance for biodiversity and human survival, while also examining the alternative view that broader systemic issues like climate change and pollution are more critical. Ideas are appropriately developed, although some arguments, such as the mention of human medicines and fibers, could have been elaborated further. The position is maintained consistently throughout the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Overall, the task is handled well in line with the band 7 expectations, as all requirements are addressed with a clear overall stance and well-supported arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. The response is divided into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, two distinct body paragraphs representing the two contrasting views, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," "Moreover," and "Firstly," which help guide the reader through the arguments. However, referencing and transitions are at times slightly mechanical. For instance, the transition in the third paragraph ("due to which it leads to") feels a bit clunky. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall structure remains coherent and easy to follow, meeting the criteria for a solid band 6.5 or 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student displays an adequate range of vocabulary for the task and attempts less common lexical items such as "biodiversity," "catastrophic effects," "degradation," "extinction," and "urbanization." However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocations, such as "degradation of nature apart from loss of species" and "disturbance in natural food cycle" (missing articles). Additionally, the phrase "greater number of issues which need to be taken in account" contains a slight preposition error ("into account"). Despite these occasional errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points clearly, aligning well with the band 6 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional-like reasoning and relative clauses, such as "Although the loss of biodiversity can lead to catastrophic effects, the degradation of nature apart from loss of species is far more hazardous." There are some noticeable grammatical errors throughout the text, including article omissions ("disturbance in natural food cycle") and minor prepositional or tense inconsistencies ("will also effect" instead of "affect", "lead to extinction" instead of "leads to"). Nevertheless, these errors do not impede communication, and the sentence structures remain generally clear and understandable, supporting a band 6 score.

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