Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

We are living in a time where the environmental problems are at a peak. All the elements of the environment are getting toxic. This worsening of our environment depends on a lot of variables. There are manmade reasons and natural reasons.

Among the natural causes, there is the loss of different species of plants and animals. These biological markers are essential in keeping the balance of biodiversity. If one variable unlinks from the chain the whole system goes out of balance. For example, in an ecosystem, the food cycle plays an important role. If one member of that ecosystem is removed the entire system loses it's role in the wider biosystem and may cause enironmental problems in return.

On the other hand, manmade issues are also a part of this. The ever increasing technological development in the world is contributing the most in these increasing environmental problems. Just last week flying cars were invited, well, the first step towards that anyway. And all the toxic wastes and byproducts of these inventions are killing the environment slowly but surely. Sea levels are rising. Just last month, Nepal saw a massive lanslide that cost a lost of people's lives, which is devastating. Global warming is causing all these situations that definitely has mankind to blame.

In my opinion, man made problems are more prominent in this case. Nature has her own ways to balance the system, so even if some species are lost, the system would get back on track if man don't interrupt with their negative impacts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a clear view that human-caused problems are more prominent, and you discuss species loss as well as pollution, technological development, rising sea levels and global warming. The food-chain example helps explain why species loss matters. However, the two views are not explored with equal clarity: the discussion of species loss is brief, while the other side is framed broadly as “manmade issues” rather than identifying and comparing specific environmental problems. Some claims, such as that nature will restore balance after species disappear, need qualification and support. To strengthen the response, explain how biodiversity loss affects ecosystems and weigh its consequences directly against a clearly defined alternative problem, using a relevant example for each view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on species loss, a paragraph on human impacts, and a concluding opinion. Transitions such as “On the other hand” and “In my opinion” make the direction of the argument easy to follow. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes loose. The shift from technological development to flying cars, toxic waste, sea levels and a Nepal landslide feels like a list rather than a connected explanation. References such as “these situations” are also broad, so the link between the examples and global warming is not always clear. Group related effects together and use explicit cause-and-effect links to make the argument flow more smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “biodiversity,” “ecosystem,” “toxic wastes,” “sea levels” and “global warming,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at less common phrasing, such as “biological markers” and “wider biosystem,” but these are not precise in context. Several word-choice and spelling problems reduce accuracy, including “unlinks,” “enironmental,” “invited” (apparently intended to mean “invented”), and “lanslide.” Phrases such as “environmental problems are at a peak” and “contributing the most in” are also awkward collocations. Aim for precise environmental terminology and check spelling and common word partnerships; this will make your ideas clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “If one member of that ecosystem is removed…” and a relative clause in “which is devastating.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. For example, “contributing the most in these increasing environmental problems” has an incorrect preposition pattern, while “situations that definitely has mankind to blame” has faulty agreement and sentence construction. In “if man don't interrupt,” the subject and verb do not agree, and “it's role” uses the wrong form of the possessive. Review subject–verb agreement, possessives, and clause construction, then proofread longer sentences to ensure that each clause is grammatically complete.

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