Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-06

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)

There is an ongoing debate about environmental issues. Some people argue that theloss of particular species of plants and animals is a major environmental issue, whereas others state that there are more important environmental problems which deserves greater attention. I believe that the loss of species is the more serious environmental problem, despite the existence of major issues such as climate change, deforestation, habitat destruction and plastic waste.

Problems such as climate change, plastic waste and even deforestation pose serious threat and affect the biodiversity on a global scale. Climate change threatens overall agricultural production, which can cause problems to the economy of a particular geographical area as well. Plastic waste is one of the major issues that people are dealing with nowadays increase in use of plastic results not only pollution but also creates microplastics which can cause harm internally to humans and animals. Plastics are not environment friendly and can take a significant amount to decompose which can also cause problems such as infertility in soil and soil erosion if necessary measures are not implememted. For example, plastic waste can seriously harm sea creatures when they mistake it for food or become trapped in it. This can cause injuries, starvation, suffocation, and even death, while microplastics can also enter the marine food chain. However, these issues can be reversed if measures are implemented by the government such as plantation projects, spreading awareness of environmental problems and how to overcome the problems, introducing biodegradeable plastics which cause least harm to the ecosystem.

On the other hand, extinction of certain species of plants and animals can be more serious problem as it can affect the overall food chains and irreversible damage to the wildlife and ecosystem. Due to increase in deforestation and inhospitable environment many animals as well as plants species are going extinct for instance, there are a lot of bee species which are on the verge of extinction which can decrease in pollination and plants are the primary source of oxygen and food for herbivorous animals if these issues are not controlled it can cause serious harm tothe environment and the overall system can be disrupted by that.

In conclusion, both the views are some way or the other dependent on each other so it is very important to implement balance if deforestation and plastic waste is not controlled it can ultimately cause extinction of species which can accelerate larger problems in the ecosystem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—that species loss is the primary problem and that other issues like climate change and plastic waste are more critical—while providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas presented are generally relevant, fulfilling the requirements for a solid mid-range score, and the position is maintained throughout. However, some ideas remain slightly under-developed or lack full extension. For instance, the discussion on alternative environmental issues covers various points such as climate change and plastic waste, but the exploration of how these compare directly to the extinction crisis is somewhat compressed. To reach the next level, the writer needs to ensure that every main idea is fully elaborated with deeper analysis and more comprehensive supporting arguments rather than listing multiple issues in rapid succession.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear progression of ideas from an introduction to body paragraphs discussing different perspectives, and finally a conclusion. Paragraphing is used logically to separate distinct viewpoints. Cohesion within and between sentences is generally present, but the application is sometimes faulty or mechanical. For example, some sentences are extremely long and run-on, such as the sentence detailing plastic waste starting with 'Plastic waste is one of the major issues...', which lacks appropriate punctuation and creates a heavy, confusing flow. Reference words and conjunctions are sometimes overused or imprecise, making the logical relationships between clauses feel slightly strained at times. Better control over sentence linking and punctuation would elevate the organizational clarity.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'biodiversity', 'inhospitable environment', and 'microplastics'. However, there are notable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and spelling that prevent a higher score. For example, terms like 'implememted' contain spelling errors, and phrases such as 'implement balance' or 'cause serious harm tothe environment' show minor collocation slips and spacing issues. The lexical choices are sufficient to communicate the main arguments clearly, but occasional instances of awkward phrasing and word form errors indicate that vocabulary control needs greater precision and polish to meet the demands of higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt at varied syntactic structures. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation throughout the text that place it firmly in the mid-lower range. A major issue is the presence of run-on sentences and comma splices, particularly in the second body paragraph where multiple independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions. Additionally, there are minor slips in subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'can be more serious problem' and 'causes serious harm tothe environment'. While these grammatical errors rarely completely impede communication, the lack of consistent control over complex sentence structures and punctuation restricts the grammatical score.

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