Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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 the recent times, people have different opinion about whether there is more problem for environment in danger compared with the loss of certain species of plants and animals. Although, it has some negative effect that the mentioned situation would have, there are some other issues which we should priortize first and do some practical measures.

To begin with, particular kinds of plants and animals are the main sources of food for human beings, which play a essential role in their needs for consumption and nutrition. In addition, plants also produce fresh air by undergoing photosynthesis, the process not only purify the air but also decrease the harmful gases in the atmoshpere, which leads to several benefits for entire biodiversity on earth. Therefore, we depend on these species to fulfil our bsic living conditions, it is obivious that the extinction of those plants and animals is going to intimidate humans significantly.

On the other hand, another important factors are widespreading of urbanisation in most developed countries. Furthermore, overuse of land and pollution of air and water influence the habitats of plants and animals, such as degrading soil and deforestation, leads to gradual loss of variety of species. As a result, practical precautions are adopted like seed bank or animal conservation.

In conclusion, I believe that protect the environment and cutting down on the harm to the creatures should be our first priority. Therefore, carriying out environmentally friendly methods to reduce the threat to plants and animals is an urgent matter.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You present a relevant view that species loss matters, explaining that plants provide food and help purify air, and you give your own position that environmental protection should be a priority. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the alternative view—that other environmental problems are more important—is not clearly explained or supported. Urbanisation, pollution, and land use are mentioned, but their significance is not compared with species loss, and the paragraph then shifts to conservation measures. Your conclusion also does not clearly state which problem you consider most important. Develop both sides with specific reasons or examples, then make your position explicit and consistent throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help signal stages in the discussion. However, the progression between ideas is sometimes unclear: the second body paragraph moves from urbanisation and pollution to conservation measures without explaining the connection or showing how these issues compare with species loss. Some sentences also combine several points, making relationships harder to follow, particularly the sentence beginning “Therefore, we depend on these species.” Use clearer topic sentences and develop one main point at a time, with linking phrases that show cause, contrast, or consequence rather than relying mainly on paragraph markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt relevant topic vocabulary, including “photosynthesis,” “biodiversity,” “deforestation,” and “conservation,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also some effort to use less common expressions, such as “practical precautions.” However, inaccurate word choice, collocation, and spelling are noticeable and sometimes make meaning less clear: “more problem for environment in danger,” “widespreading of urbanisation,” and “intimidate humans” are not natural or precise in context. Spelling errors such as “atmoshpere,” “obivious,” and “carriying” also reduce control. Build accuracy by learning common environmental collocations and checking word forms and spelling; for example, use “threaten human survival” rather than “intimidate humans.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “which,” “although,” and “therefore.” This shows some range, but errors in sentence construction and agreement recur. For example, “Although, it has some negative effect …, there are some other issues” has faulty punctuation and an unclear pronoun, while “plants … produce fresh air … the process not only purify” joins clauses incorrectly and has subject–verb disagreement. Other examples include “a essential role” and “another important factors.” These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general message, but they make several sentences awkward. Practise accurate clause joining, articles, and singular/plural agreement, and proofread each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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