Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-12

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)

Many species of animals and plants today are in danger of losing their existence. The primary causes of this problem are global warming and deforestation. While other environmental problems such as melting of ice, increase in number of natural calamities remain very important, because of its direct effect on humans, the loss of particular species of plants and animals is the main problem.

The oceans today are witnessing a major increase. This is pimarily because of the melting of ice. Also, there is an increase in the number of natural disasters like floods, cyclones, draught, earthquakes, etc. These problems demand a lot of attention because of the loss of lives of many people and their habitats. For example, India is witnessing increasing number of floods and people are severely getting affected by them. Though these environmental problems remain very important, they are sparodic in nature or are of the nature that they affect humans indirectly or will affect the humans later in future.

Because of global warming and deforestation, many animals are deprived of their habitats and food sources and therefore it has put them at the brink of extinction. Extreme and unpredictable weather conditions are the reasons for the loss of several species of plants. Plants and animals play pivotal roles in the food chain. Humans are dependent on them for their food and therefore life. Loss of these plants and animals will directly affect the humans in comparison with other environmental problems as its effect is more imminent than other problems. Also, several species of animals and birds are dependent on particular species of animals and plants. Loss of them disturbs the entire food chain and also reduces bio diversity. Several things made from these plants or animals are useful as medicines and in many other facets of life.

Because of the direct and negative influence on people's lives, the loss of sepcies of plants and animals remain the main environmental problem. But, other environmental problems should also be given importance and care because they are going to affect us, the humans only whether it is now or in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You discuss both views and state a clear opinion: although disasters and melting ice matter, you consider species loss the main problem because of its direct effects on people and ecosystems. The explanation that plants and animals support food chains, provide food and medicines, and sustain other species is relevant and gives your position a sound basis. However, the opposing view is less fully developed: the paragraph lists floods, cyclones and other disasters, but does not explain in much detail why these might be considered more important overall. Some claims also need clearer support—for example, describing other problems as affecting humans “indirectly” sits uneasily beside your example of people harmed by floods. Develop both sides more evenly and make comparisons more precise. (The response includes nine words copied from the task prompt.)

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting other environmental problems, a paragraph explaining the threat to species, and a conclusion that restates your view. This gives the reader an overall route through the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes loose. The second paragraph moves from melting ice to disasters and then to the claim that these problems affect people indirectly, without clearly connecting the points. Linking phrases such as “Also,” “Though,” and repeated uses of “Because” help signal relationships, but their use can feel mechanical, and “its effect” has an unclear reference. Group related causes and consequences more deliberately, and use clearer referencing and transitions to show how each example supports your comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “deforestation,” “habitats,” “food sources,” “extinction,” “food chain,” and “biodiversity,” which allows you to discuss environmental impacts with some specificity. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “pivotal roles” and “imminent.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “losing their existence,” “The oceans today are witnessing a major increase,” and “at the brink of extinction” do not express the intended ideas naturally. Spelling slips such as “pimarily,” “draught,” “sparodic,” and “sepcies” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise environmental collocations and proofread spelling; this will make your meaning more fluent without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including subordinate clauses beginning “While” and “Because,” and the sentence explaining that species loss “disturbs the entire food chain” is clear. Most of the argument remains understandable despite some grammatical errors. For example, “The oceans today are witnessing a major increase” lacks a clear object for “increase,” while “because of its direct effect” has an unclear singular reference. In “Loss of these plants and animals will directly affect the humans in comparison with other environmental problems as its effect is more imminent,” the comparison and pronoun reference are difficult to follow. There are also agreement and article issues, as in “the loss … remain the main environmental problem.” Check that subjects and verbs agree, and make pronouns and comparisons unambiguous.

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