Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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 claim that in today's current time the most important environmental problem is the extinction of particular subclass of plants and animals, while others believe that there are more crucial environmental problems such as increase in global temperature and deforestation. This essay agrees that global warming and deforestation is a bigger issue and how solving them can directly solve the issue of loss of particular species of plants and animals.

On one hand, people that support the first view is because plants and animals are part of the natural food cycle. The whole food chain gets impacted when a certain plant or animal is extinct. For instance, humans depend on bees nest for honey. In order for bees to able to produce honey, they rely on flowers like sunflowers for food. Bees usually hop from one flower to another, this activity allows pollination which is a process of distributing seeds to ensure the plants continue to grow naturally. If plants are cut down, then bees will not have food to survive and humans will not have honey anymore. Therefore, it is vital to protect the existence of all plants and animals.

On the other hand, people that claim issues like global warming and deforestation are bigger environmental issue. This is because increase in global temperature is the root cause of loss of plants and anumals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You introduce both views and state a clear preference for global warming and deforestation, while the food-chain example gives relevant support for protecting species. However, the response addresses the task only partially: the second view is asserted but barely explained, and the essay ends before developing how climate change or deforestation causes species loss or why these problems are more important. Your own opinion is stated, but its reasoning is not sufficiently supported. The response contains 218 words, so it is 32 words below the required minimum; this limits the space available to develop both sides and your conclusion. Extend the discussion with specific explanations and examples, then finish with a clear concluding judgement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting the first view, and a paragraph beginning the opposing view. Linking phrases such as “On one hand,” “For instance,” and “Therefore” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is incomplete because the second body paragraph stops after one claim, and there is no conclusion to bring the discussion together. Some links are also awkward or unclear, such as “This essay agrees … and how solving them,” which makes the relationship between your position and the essay’s purpose difficult to follow. Develop each paragraph around a complete point, use clear references, and add a concluding paragraph that restates your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “extinction,” “food chain,” “pollination,” “global temperature,” and “deforestation.” These terms make the subject clear, and the example shows an attempt to use more specific environmental language. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, however, such as “today’s current time,” “particular subclass,” and “bees nest for honey.” There is also a spelling error in “anumals.” These slips do not prevent the reader from understanding the main ideas, but they reduce precision. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling; for example, use “species” rather than “subclass” and “bee colonies” when discussing honey production.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including conditional and cause-and-effect structures: “If plants are cut down, then bees will not have food to survive.” This shows some range, and the main meaning is generally understandable. Some errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction remain. For example, “people that support the first view is” should use a plural verb, while “in order for bees to able to produce” is missing “be.” The opening sentence also has an awkwardly constructed clause, and “global warming and deforestation is” needs plural agreement. Review subject–verb agreement and build complex sentences carefully, while retaining the range you are attempting.

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