Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-27

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 5.0)

Some people believe that the extinction of different plants and animals are the primary environmental problem we are facing today. However, other's believe that there are bigger environmental problems that we also face. This essay will discuss both viewpoints, however I believe that although animal and plants extincition is a major issue, however there are bigger problems in the environment such as global warming and pollution, that are more pression and part of the bigger problem.

Admittedly, the biodiversity loss can affect the entire ecosystem if any specific animal or plants become extinct and this can cause a chain reaction. For e.g if there are not enought bees to pollinate flowers, then the production of crops would be affected. Moreover,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify both sides of the debate and state a position: species extinction is serious, but global warming and pollution are more pressing. The bee-pollination example is relevant and begins to explain how biodiversity loss can affect food production. However, the response addresses the task only minimally: the alternative environmental problems are named but not explained, and the discussion of species loss is cut off before its consequences are developed. The final “Moreover,” also leaves an idea unfinished. The required minimum length is not met, so there is not enough development to support the position or discuss both views fully. To improve, complete the essay with developed reasons and specific examples for each view, then reinforce your opinion in a conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic overall direction: the introduction presents the two views and your opinion, followed by a paragraph beginning to explain biodiversity loss. Linking expressions such as “However,” “Admittedly,” and “Moreover” show an attempt to connect ideas. At this stage, though, progression is limited because the response ends mid-paragraph, and “Moreover,” introduces no completed supporting point. The introduction also uses “however” twice in one sentence, which makes the connection feel repetitive rather than controlled. Organise the response into a clear introduction, separate body paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Use each linking phrase to show a specific relationship between complete ideas, and make sure each paragraph develops one central point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “extinction,” “biodiversity loss,” “ecosystem,” “pollinate,” and “global warming,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also an attempt at more precise language in “chain reaction.” However, some word choices and forms are inaccurate or awkward, such as “more pression” and “animal and plants extincition”; these reduce precision. “Different plants and animals” is also less exact than a phrase such as “particular species.” The range is difficult to demonstrate fully because the response is brief, and several spelling errors are noticeable, including “enought” and “extincition.” Build accuracy by checking spelling and word forms, and use topic-specific collocations such as “species extinction,” “habitat destruction,” and “environmental degradation.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms. For example, the opening uses a contrast between two views, and the sentence beginning “if any specific animal or plants become extinct” attempts a conditional structure. However, agreement and sentence construction are not consistently controlled: “the extinction … are” should use a singular verb, and “animal or plants become extinct” has inconsistent number. The first sentence of the introduction also combines several clauses and repeats “however,” making its structure difficult to manage. Punctuation is weak in “For e.g if,” where the example marker needs clearer punctuation. Practise building shorter, complete sentences first, then combine them with accurate conjunctions and conditionals. Check subject–verb agreement, singular and plural forms, and sentence boundaries during revision.

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