Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In modern era, various environmental problem has arised and people seem to be divided in terms of opinion on its main cause. Some believe demolishing specific species of plants and animals is the prominent reason. Some argue that other factors like air, water pollution are contributing the most. My personal belief is that the pollution effect is more vital to affect our environment and also causes extinction of species which is worsening the environmental problem.

Our ecosystem maintains natural balance by its consisting plants and animals. With changing climate which is caused by thriving industrialization and urbanization, many of these species are struggling to survive. with adverse condition created by lack of food, lack of fresh air and supplied water, the species are at verge of extinction. Consecuently, our environment is loosing its natural balance and numerous problems are arising which are further accelarating the climate change and environmental problem.

On the other hand, air and water are two of the most significant components of nature whose contamination may greatly affect the environmental condition. Growing industries, vehicles are leaving poisonous and green house gases which pollutes the breathing air as well as instigates global warming. These industries and human also produces wastage that are contaminating the water leaving it unsuitable to drink and also threatining the lives under water. My point of view also aligns with this arguement that Air and water pollution are the primary devastating factor for our changing environment.

Environmental problems has been worsened by numerous reasons including extinction of particular species of life and also air and water pollution. Argument can be shown from both side to prove which factor is more prominent where both of these have their own effect. My personal stand is with air and water pollution because pf its greater influnce on environment

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state a position: the essay recognises species loss as a serious problem, while concluding that air and water pollution are more damaging. The explanation that pollution can contribute to species extinction gives your argument a relevant link between the two perspectives. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The species-loss paragraph mainly describes consequences, rather than explaining why some people regard it as the main environmental problem; the pollution paragraph lists effects but gives no specific example or fuller comparison of their relative importance. The conclusion repeats your position but does not draw together the reasons supporting it. Develop each view with a clear reason and a concrete example, then explain why your preferred concern has the greater impact.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the other hand” help signal the shift to pollution, and the ideas within each paragraph are generally related. However, progression is not consistently clear: the first body paragraph discusses climate change and species loss without clearly framing this as the argument held by one group, while the final paragraph largely repeats points already made. Some links are awkward or unclear, including “which is worsening the environmental problem” and “Argument can be shown from both side.” Use topic sentences that identify each viewpoint, connect cause and consequence more explicitly, and make the conclusion synthesise rather than restate the discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “natural balance,” “industrialization,” “contamination,” “global warming,” and “extinction.” This gives the essay enough relevant language to communicate its main ideas. However, inaccurate word choice, collocation, and spelling are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning less clear. Examples include “demolishing specific species,” “supplied water,” “threatining,” and “greater influnce”; “green house gases” is also not conventionally written as one compound term. Some phrases, such as “environmental problem” and “air and water pollution,” are repeated frequently. Choose more precise environmental terms, check spelling carefully, and vary repeated wording where possible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “which is caused by thriving industrialization and urbanization” and a longer sentence explaining how pollution affects air and water. However, control is uneven, and errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence construction recur. For example, “various environmental problem has arised” has problems with plural agreement and verb form, while “industries and human also produces” has agreement and number errors. The sentence beginning “With adverse condition created…” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence, and “Environmental problems has been worsened” also has an agreement error. Practise building accurate complete sentences first, then add subordinate clauses and check subject–verb agreement and articles.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.