Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-24
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)
Some people argue that the loss of specific species of plants and animals is the main environmental problem of our time because of the lack of fresh air and wildlife. Others contend that there are other serious environmental problems that need to be addressed quickly such as global warming. I believe in the latter sentiment because I believe there are other problems that need to be address more quickly.
On the one hand, some believe our first priority should be preservation of particular species of flora and fauna. This will result in the increase of fresh air which are provided by various types of plants all over the surrounding. This will also conserve many wildlife and habitat of wild of animals and birds, especially those who are on the verge of extinction. For example, a specific conservation area for wild buffaloes has been constructed in Parsa district of Nepal. I disagree with this view because although, conservation of flora and fauna is important, it is not an urgent issue.
On the other hand, people contend that there are other more important environmental issues that need to be addressed quickly such as global warming. Earth's temperature is increasing more and more due to the effects of global warming. Due to this, glaciers from all around the world are melting which increase the sea level of the planet and cause other destructive damages. For reference, a glacier meltdown caused a flash flood in Nepal, taking the lives of almost 5,000 people in a single day. I agree with this view because I believe environmental problems like global warming need to be addresses as quickly as possible.
To conclude, although some argue that preservation of specific flora and fauna should be our first priority, I disagree because I believe people should focus more on dangerous and serious environmental topics such as global warming.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on environmental problems and clearly stating their own opinion in the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are generally relevant, particularly the examples regarding glacier melting and conservation areas in Nepal. However, the development of ideas in the first body paragraph tends to be a bit repetitive, such as the mention of fresh air and wildlife without sufficient extension. Furthermore, the reasoning in the thesis statement is slightly circular ('I believe in the latter sentiment because I believe there are other problems that need to be address more quickly'). Despite these minor issues of depth, the prompt is adequately covered, aligning well with the Band 6.0 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear, logical progression of ideas from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct paragraphs for the introduction, the two opposing views, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed to connect ideas, such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'To conclude.' However, some cohesion is a bit mechanical or repetitive, particularly the transition phrases and referencing, which can occasionally feel formulaic. There are also instances where pronoun referencing is slightly vague. Overall, the organizational structure is sound and meets the requirements for a Band 6.0 score.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'flora and fauna,' 'extinction,' 'global warming,' and 'conservation area.' There are, however, noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, as well as some repetition of basic vocabulary. For instance, the phrase 'fresh air which are provided' contains a grammatical slip tied to lexical control, and words like 'problems' and 'environmental' are repeated frequently. Less common items are attempted, but with occasional slips in precision and phrasing. This performance is consistent with the Band 6.0 descriptors for lexical resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like conditional clauses and relative clauses (e.g., 'especially those who are on the verge of extinction'). There are, however, several grammatical errors throughout the text. Notable errors include subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'fresh air which are provided'), prepositional slips, and passive voice errors (e.g., 'need to be address' instead of 'addressed'). While these errors are noticeable and persist across the essay, they rarely impede communication, as the reader can still readily understand the intended meaning. This balance of mixed structures and frequent minor errors places the grammar firmly at Band 6.0.
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