Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-01

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)

There are numerous hazards which are disturbing our environment badly. A good proportion of people believe that the major contention of environmental disturbance is the extinction of some specific species while others conversely believe that there are several other reasons of environmental issues that need to be enlightened. From my perspective, There are quite a few important issues of our ecosystem that we need to mitigate to make the environment healthier. For instance, Pollution and Climate change are one of the top reasons of the environmental destruction.

Pollution is the biggest reason of distrubance in the decorum of the environment. As there are various kind of pollutions in our societies which make the environment worsen. According to the survey conducted in 2024 by a professional team of surveyers in Croatia shown that around 76 percent of the air in the country was proven to be polluted by the industrial wastes and other disposal means and this had badly effect the environment throughout. Thus, the pollution plays the contention role in environment's safety.

In the similar manners, the sudden change in the climate make the disturbance in the environment restoration. As it has been witnessed by many people that the seasons have been changing rapidly for some couple of years now and the reason behind this change is Greenhouse effect. In Kenya, Researchers has found out the exact emission rate of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which leads to many brutal diseases and making the ecosystem unbalance. This grabbed the attention of world's environment preserverance department and they have issued a strict law against emission of such toxic gases in the atmosphere to preserve the environment.

To sum up, the environment is much preserved if we tackle main issues rather than focusing on the minor reasons we need to catch the main culprits of our environment. This includes the proper planning to eradicate pollution from our society and to provide awareness to the people for not to release health hazards gasses in the atmosphere.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—the focus on endangered species and the view that other environmental issues are more pressing—while also presenting a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas remains somewhat limited and under-developed. For instance, while the writer mentions the loss of species in the introduction, this view is not sufficiently explored in the body paragraphs, which immediately shift to pollution and climate change without providing a balanced comparison. The position is generally clear throughout, but the reasoning lacks sufficient depth and supporting evidence, leaving the arguments feeling slightly superficial. To reach a higher level, the writer should ensure that both sides of the argument receive equal and thorough consideration, with fully extended explanations and examples that directly substantiate every claim made.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, showing an attempt to logically sequence ideas. However, the progression of information lacks smoothness, and the logical transition between paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For example, starting the second body paragraph with 'In the similar manners' demonstrates a faulty use of cohesive devices, and referencing between sentences is not always clear. Paragraphing is used to separate main points, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs feels repetitive and relies on basic connectors. To improve, the writer needs to employ a wider and more natural range of cohesive devices without overusing or misusing them, ensuring that each sentence flows logically and seamlessly into the next to create a clear overall progression throughout the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used provides an adequate range for the task, allowing the writer to communicate basic ideas about the environment. There are attempts to use less common items, such as 'contention', 'ecosystem', and 'preserverance', but these are frequently marred by inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word form. For example, phrases like 'major contention of environmental disturbance' and 'environment's safety' sound unnatural. Additionally, there are noticeable spelling and mechanical errors, such as 'distrubance', 'surveyers', 'effect' instead of 'affect', and 'unbalance' instead of 'imbalance', though these errors do not completely impede communication. To achieve a higher band, the writer must demonstrate greater precision and control over less common vocabulary, ensuring correct collocations and accurate spelling throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting subordinate clauses and various verb tenses throughout the essay. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that can cause difficulty for the reader. For instance, there are issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'Pollution is the biggest reason of distrubance' and 'shown that around 76 percent of the air... was proven'. Furthermore, attempts at complex structures are often faulty, as seen in 'According to the survey... shown that around 76 percent...', which lacks a main verb structure. To progress further, the writer needs to exercise better control over grammatical structures, ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately and that errors in punctuation, articles, and verb forms are minimized.

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