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)

In my opinion, the extinction of specic species of plants and animals is not an environmental problems faced by the mankind today rather the result of other significant environmental issues.

There are more critical enviromental problems such as Fossil fuel consumption for energy sources and use of wood for commercial purposes which are worth considering.

Since decades, Fossil fuesl have been under use to obtain energy for daily life purposes. Being a non renewable energy source, combustion of fossil fuels leads to alarmingly high concentration of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which is the leading cause of environmental pollution. These constantly elevated levels result in life threatning natural disasters for example Urban flooding, grwoing sea levels, increasing temperatures due to Greenhouse effect. More emportance should be given to such challenges to make life safer for everyone.

Just like Fossil fuels, humans have been cutting trees and sometimes entire forests for wood and housing schemes. This wood is used for commercial purposes like furnuture, burning etc. while housing schemes accomodate the constantly increasing world population. Cutting of forests on mass level causes deforestation which not only leads to several other environmental challenges and disasters but also one of the leading causes of extinction of plants' species.

In summary, it can be concluded that it is difficult to consider the decline in the specific species of both plants and animals an environmental issue. It is not an issue but one of the negative consequences of other more critical probelems. Addressing these challenges should be more important as these are not only harmhul for humans but equally for flora and fauna.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view that species loss is a consequence of wider environmental problems, and you support this with relevant discussion of fossil-fuel use and deforestation. The explanation linking carbon dioxide to climate-related hazards and forest clearance to species extinction shows a relevant line of reasoning. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the view that species loss itself is the main environmental problem receives little direct consideration. The opening dismisses it rather than explaining why people regard biodiversity loss as especially serious, and the conclusion repeats your position without weighing the two perspectives. Develop that opposing case—for example, by explaining how species loss disrupts ecosystems—then compare its importance with the other problems.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs on fossil fuels and forest clearance, and a concluding summary. This makes the main examples easy to identify, and phrases such as “Just like Fossil fuels” signal a connection between the two causes. However, progression is limited because the essay moves from one environmental problem to another without a paragraph presenting the opposing view required by the task. Some links are also mechanical or unclear: “Since decades” does not establish the intended time relationship, while “These challenges” in the conclusion refers broadly to several issues. Use a clear paragraph for each viewpoint, then connect them through comparison and a final judgement. More precise referencing would make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “combustion,” “concentration,” “deforestation,” “Greenhouse effect,” and “flora and fauna,” which helps communicate the environmental focus. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “leading cause” and “negative consequences.” However, spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural combinations are noticeable and sometimes distract the reader: “specic,” “enviromental,” “fuesl,” and “life threatning” are examples. Phrases such as “Fossil fuel consumption for energy sources” and “decline in the specific species” are not expressed naturally. Aim for accurate collocations and consistent spelling, and choose precise terms such as “loss of biodiversity” rather than repeatedly referring to “specific species.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including a complex explanation beginning “Being a non renewable energy source” and a relative clause in “which is the leading cause.” These attempts help convey cause and effect, and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, grammatical control is uneven, particularly in longer sentences. The opening has a faulty construction: “is not an environmental problems … rather the result” needs a singular noun and a clearer contrast structure. In “Since decades, Fossil fuels have been under use,” the time expression and verb pattern are not grammatical. There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries, including “one of the leading causes” after a singular subject. Practise accurate complex sentences and check agreement, articles, and punctuation during revision.

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.