Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-14

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 recent years, people have been arguing that there are environmental problems due to the extinction of some species of flora and fauna, but some believe that there are many other major factor of that. This essay discusses the views of both sides and give my opinion before reaching a conclusion.

On the one hand, some people believe that there are many difficulties because of distinct of some species; first and most importantly, there is a bargad tree. For instance, it is a very big tree which gives a lot of fresh air to the environment. As a result, the area near that tree was very fresh and full of relaxing vibes, which is not found in today's time. Moving further, the loss of fauna also has a bad impact on the environment, with the extinction of some animals; the eating cycle of the animals was disrupted. As a result, there is an overpopulation of prey.

On the other hand, many other things also create problems; first of all is traffic. For instance, cars stop in traffic, burn more fuel, and create more air pollution. As a result, air pollution increases with increased traffic. Secondly, noise pollution and garbage pollution, which are created by people, harm the environment.

In conclusion, after looking at the reasons of both sides aforementioned, one can conclude that both have a bad effect on nature, but the loss of plants and animals is the biggest problem for the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address both views and state a clear preference in the conclusion: the loss of plants and animals is, in your view, the biggest environmental problem. The examples of the bargad tree and disrupted predator–prey relationships are relevant, as are traffic and pollution. However, the discussion is only partially developed: the tree example focuses on shade and fresh air without explaining the wider ecological consequences of species loss, while the other-problems paragraph names noise and garbage pollution but gives little explanation. The position is clearest at the end rather than being developed throughout. The response is also 6 words below the required 250-word minimum. To strengthen the response, explain the consequences of each example and make the comparison between the two views more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the discussion. Within paragraphs, however, progression is sometimes mechanical, with repeated “For instance,” “As a result,” and “first” structures. Some links are also unclear: “the area near that tree was very fresh” does not clearly connect the tree’s loss to a broader environmental effect, and “the eating cycle” is not explained sufficiently for the reader to follow the point. Develop each paragraph around a clear claim, then connect the example and its consequence explicitly. This would make cohesion more natural and the argument easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “extinction,” “flora and fauna,” “air pollution,” and “overpopulation of prey,” showing that you can discuss environmental issues. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the intended meaning less clear. For example, “distinct of some species” does not express species loss, “major factor of that” is an awkward phrase, and “eating cycle” is not the usual term for relationships between predators and prey. “Relaxing vibes” is also too informal for an academic essay. Aim for precise environmental collocations and a consistently formal register. Replacing vague phrases with terms such as “biodiversity loss,” “food chain,” and “ecosystem” would make the discussion clearer and more appropriate to the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex forms, including a relative clause in “a very big tree which gives a lot of fresh air” and a subordinate clause beginning “after looking at the reasons.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. In the introduction, “This essay discusses … and give my opinion” has a subject–verb agreement error; use “gives.” The phrase “many other major factor” needs a plural noun, and “the area near that tree was very fresh” uses an imprecise tense for a general point. The sentence beginning “Secondly, noise pollution and garbage pollution” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. Check agreement, singular and plural forms, and ensure each sentence has a complete main clause. More accurate control of these structures would improve clarity.

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