Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-09
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)
Some people say that the main environmental issue of modern era is the loss of specific animals and plants. Others claim that there are many other factors that play a significant role in environmental problems. Before giving my opinion I will discuss both views in this essay.
On one hand, some people believe that climate issues are because of the loss of some specific types of plants and animals. As we know, plants are important in maintaining balance in ecosystem as they play a key role in reducing air pollution. Moreover, they also produce numerous gasses that has potential effect on our enivironment. So loss of plants could lead to climate change.
On the other hand, there are many other factors that are responsible for the climate change. One of the main factor is air pollution. High usage of motor vehicles are effecting air quality which as a result effect our environment. Additionally, industrial waste also play an key role in effecting our ecosystem. Smoke from the industries carry numerous harmful gasses that effect ecosystem.
From my perspective, loss of specific plants and animals could lead to air pollution. This air pollution in result effect our environment.
In conclusion, main factor of environmental disaster is loss of specific breed of animals and plants. But there are also variety of other factors that has harmful effects on environment.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
You introduce both views and give a position, but the discussion is only partial and the ideas are minimally developed. The first body paragraph links plant and animal loss to climate issues, yet it focuses mainly on plants and does not explain how the loss of animal species affects the environment. The second paragraph names vehicle emissions and industrial waste, but gives little explanation or a relevant example. Your opinion is also difficult to distinguish: you say species loss can cause air pollution, while the conclusion calls it the main factor, without clearly comparing it with the other problems. The response is also 23 words below the required minimum. Develop each view with a clear cause-and-effect explanation and make your own judgement explicit.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two paragraphs presenting contrasting views, a personal view and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and several points repeat rather than build on one another. For example, air pollution and environmental effects are mentioned repeatedly without adding a new explanation. The link between species loss and air pollution in your opinion is also not made clear. Use cohesive links to show how each reason supports your argument, and ensure that the conclusion follows consistently from the position stated in the body.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “ecosystem,” “air pollution,” “industrial waste,” and “harmful gases,” so the reader can follow the general subject. However, the range is limited and some wording is repeated, particularly “effect” and “environment.” There are also noticeable word-choice, collocation and spelling problems, such as “High usage of motor vehicles,” “effecting air quality,” and “enivironment.” These reduce precision and make some sentences less natural, although the main meaning is generally recoverable. Aim for more accurate environmental collocations and vary repeated terms; for example, describe vehicle emissions as “degrading air quality” and use “biodiversity loss” where appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You use mostly straightforward sentence patterns, with some attempts to connect ideas through clauses, as in “High usage of motor vehicles are effecting air quality which as a result effect our environment.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement and verb forms occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include “gasses that has,” “One of the main factor,” “waste also play,” and “factors that has.” Articles and sentence construction also need attention, as in “balance in ecosystem.” Practise checking subject–verb agreement and singular/plural forms, and build a wider range of accurate complex sentences. Breaking longer sentences into clear clauses will also help you avoid errors such as the repeated incorrect verb form in the vehicle-emissions sentence.
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