Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21

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 6.5)

Nowadays, environmental problem are becoming very serious around the world. Some People believe that the extinction of certain plant and animal species is biggest environmental concern, while other argue that there are more important environmental problems. In my opinion, although the loss of biodiversity is a major problem but climate change and pollution have wider impact on our planet.

On the one hand, the disappearance of particular species of plant and animal can have serious consequences for the environment. Every species plays an important role in maintaining the balance in nature. For example, bees help pollinate plants, while certain animals control the population of other species. If these species become extinct, food chains may be disrupted. Furthermore, deforestation and illegal hunting are causing many species to lose their natural habitats. Therefore, protecting endangered plants and animals is essential for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

On the other hand, many people believe that problems such as climate change, air pollution and water pollution are more urgent. These issues affect millions of people and can cause serious health problems. For instance, air pollution from vehicles and factories can lead to respiratory diseases, while global warming causes rising temperatures, melting glaciers and extreme weather conditions. Moreover, water pollution reduces the availability of clean drinking water. These problems affect not only humans but also animals and plants. Therefore, addressing these wider environmental challenges should be a major priority for governments and individuals.

In conclusion, both the extinction of plant and animal species and other environmental problems deserve serious attention. However, I believe that climate change and pollution are more pressing concerns because they affect the entire planet and can also accelerate the loss of biodiversity. Governments should take effective measures to address these problems and protect the natural environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses both views and gives a clear, consistent opinion: biodiversity loss is serious, but climate change and pollution have wider effects. Each position is supported with relevant examples, including pollination, disrupted food chains, respiratory disease and extreme weather. This meets the task well, with ideas extended rather than merely listed. To strengthen the discussion further, develop the comparison between the two views more explicitly—for example, explain how climate change or pollution can intensify species loss, and why that makes these problems more pressing overall. The conclusion reinforces the stated position and offers a relevant call for action, though the recommendation could be made more specific.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear, effective structure: an introduction states the debate and position, two body paragraphs discuss the opposing views, and the conclusion summarises the argument. Progression within the paragraphs is logical, and linking phrases such as “On the one hand,” “Furthermore,” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. References such as “These issues” and “These problems” are generally clear. To make cohesion more flexible, avoid relying mainly on familiar signposting and add links that show the relationship between ideas—for instance, explicitly connect pollution’s effects on ecosystems to the earlier discussion of biodiversity. This would make the argument feel more integrated rather than organised chiefly as two separate sides.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate and includes relevant environmental terms such as “biodiversity,” “food chains,” “natural habitats,” “respiratory diseases,” and “extreme weather conditions.” These choices communicate the main ideas clearly, and some less common topic-specific language is used appropriately. However, the range is not consistently precise or flexible: phrases such as “more urgent,” “serious consequences,” and “major priority” are broad and recur in similar forms. There are also word-choice and form issues, including “environmental problem” and “wider impact,” which reduce naturalness. Greater precision in describing scale, causes and ecological effects, alongside more varied collocations, would build on the sound task vocabulary already present.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex structures, including conditional and relative clauses: “If these species become extinct, food chains may be disrupted” and “problems such as climate change… are more urgent.” Most sentences are easy to understand, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In the opening, “environmental problem are” has a number-agreement error, and “the extinction… is biggest environmental concern” is missing an article. The construction “although… but” in the opinion sentence is also faulty, while “other argue” has a subject–verb agreement error. Review articles, agreement and clause patterns, then proofread for these recurring slips. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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.