Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-16

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)

It is often argued that loss of particular species such as plants and animals is the only environmental problem, while many individuals argue that there are more important environmental problems. This essay will discuss both view before presenting my own opinion.

One major environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals because all animals are dependent on one another and loss of these animals can severely affect their habitat and food chain. Similarly, plants are also dependent on animals because they can reproduce from animal's waste. For instance, all carnivores are dependent on herbivores and all herbivores are dependent on plants and grass. In this case absence of any one specie can cause severe effects on food chain, and can damage the ecosystem and biodiversity.

However, some people think that there are other environmental problems that are far more important because they could have bigger impacts on our environment. I strongly agree with this viewpoint because problems such as climate change, natural disasters, and polluted environment can cause adverse effects on our environment. Another factor is global warming and due to this huge glaciers are melted in summer causing flood. Moreover, emissions of carbon dioxide from automobiles on a large scale can cause air pollution. For instance, if a person buys a tin of Cola and he throws it away after drinking it, then this can cause land pollution.

In conclusion, many particular species of animals and plants are responsible for environmental problems. Nevertheless, I believe other major problems such as global warming and climate change are contributing more to damage our environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response discusses both views and gives a clear preference for the view that wider environmental problems are more serious, especially in the final paragraph. The explanation of species loss is relevant, using food-chain dependence as support. However, the discussion is uneven: the second view receives more attention, while the first is explained mainly through a general food-chain example. Some supporting points are also unclear or insufficiently connected to the argument, such as the discarded Cola tin, which illustrates littering but does not establish that this problem is more important than species loss. Develop each side with a specific, explained example and make the comparison behind your opinion more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “However,” “Moreover,” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the discussion. The progression is generally understandable, but some links between ideas are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Another factor is global warming” repeats the preceding point about climate change rather than introducing a distinct factor, and the move from melting glaciers to a discarded drink tin is abrupt. The conclusion also repeats the main position without drawing together the comparison. Use clearer links between examples and claims, and organise related environmental problems into a more deliberate sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant topic vocabulary, including “food chain,” “ecosystem,” “biodiversity,” “global warming,” and “air pollution,” so the main ideas are communicated. However, the range is limited by repeated general terms such as “environmental problem,” “environment,” and “cause,” and some word choices or forms are inaccurate. “One specie” should be “one species,” while “plants can reproduce from animal’s waste” is an imprecise way to describe how animals can help disperse seeds. Phrases such as “polluted environment” and “contributing more to damage” are also awkward. Aim for more precise environmental vocabulary and check collocations and word forms so that examples express the intended relationship accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple sentences and attempts at complex structures, including clauses with “because,” “while,” and “if.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships less clear. For example, “This essay will discuss both view” needs plural agreement, and “all animals are dependent on one another and loss of these animals” needs an article before “loss.” The sentence beginning “Another factor is global warming and due to this…” joins ideas awkwardly, while “if a person buys… and he throws it away” has an unclear pronoun reference. Practise accurate plural forms, articles, and sentence boundaries, and vary complex structures while keeping each clause clearly connected.

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