Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

For environment, few things are more crucial than plants and animals. In many developed and developing countries a substantial amount of money is allocated to save environment, as it often necessitates the use of various resources, such as conservation process of endangered species of many plants or animals, scientists, research lab, different types instruments for identify the problems and so on. Nowadays, many would agree that contemporary society has nearly transcended its traditional boundaries identifying the main environmental problem by losing of some species of plants and animals as this create ecological imbalance in the nature. On the contrary, some people think that there are more significant environmental problems we are currently than facing which are global warming, deforestation, air and water pollution. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that we are facing more problems than only to lose some species of plants and animals.

Naturally, extinction of many specific green lives and wildlife are creating some kind of inexhaustible problems for environment. Losing of any particular tree and animal in any region make the bad impact in the whole ecosystem of that area. Science many of that ecosystem dependent on each other. Consequently it will impact on environment. For example, extinction of Tasmanian tiger in Australia made the farmers of those area unbearable loss. Because wolf and many more wild animal who ate the livestock were feared of Tasmanian tigers. Moreover, they only ate mouse and snake from the farmer land. When they extinct farmers had to face huge economical loss and there was also food shortage of that region because mice increased in huge number and they consume the crop from the land.

On the other hand, there are several issues we are facing due to environmental problems. Temperature of the whole word is rising over the past few decades and in some area it is quite unbearable. Additionally people are cutting down trees for agricultural and for construction of accommodations for people. Industries, vehicles are producing carbon which pollute air. Additionally, water is contaminated by many household and industries. They throw their wastage in the water directly without any purification. It creates shortage of fresh water all around the world.

Therefore, the notion of placing full responsibility only to save the loss of particular species of plants and animals is not always appealing, particularly when more problems arising and the environmental problem is the main reason behind it. I believe we should focus on not only one problem despite of whole many other main reason behind this.

In conclusion, extinction of some wild life and plants are one of many reasons that we are facing for environmental problem. There are more other problems we are enduring for environmental reason. Therefore, I firmly believe that environmental problem are not just bound to only one particular reasons we are facing lots of other consequences for that.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state your position: species loss harms ecosystems, while you believe environmental problems extend beyond extinction. The discussion of pollution, rising temperatures and deforestation is relevant, and the Tasmanian tiger example attempts to show consequences for farming and food supplies. However, the two sides are not developed equally: the first example takes up considerable space, while the broader problems are mostly listed rather than explained with specific effects or evidence. Your conclusion repeats the position but does not sharpen the comparison. To strengthen the response, explain why the wider problems may be more serious or far-reaching, and make the relationship between species loss and other environmental threats clearer. (The response meets the stated length requirement; nine words copied from the prompt were excluded.)

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Connectors such as “On the other hand,” “For example,” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, with repeated transitions such as “Additionally” and repeated references to “environmental problems.” Some links between ideas are unclear: the Tasmanian tiger example moves from extinction to farmers’ losses and food shortages without clearly explaining the ecological chain. The final two paragraphs also repeat the same general claim rather than advancing the argument. Use clearer referencing and organise each body paragraph around one main claim, followed by a direct explanation and supporting example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “ecological imbalance,” “extinction,” “deforestation,” “contaminated,” and “purification.” These choices show awareness of the subject and allow the main ideas to be understood. However, inaccurate word choice and collocation are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward, as in “save environment,” “green lives,” “inexhaustible problems,” and “the whole word.” There are also repeated general terms such as “problems” and “impact,” which limit precision. Aim to learn environmental vocabulary in natural combinations and choose words that express the intended meaning exactly. For example, describe species as “plant and animal species,” and say that pollution “contaminates water supplies” rather than that water is contaminated “by” household waste.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “as,” “when,” and “because,” and you attempt to explain cause and effect. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “this create ecological imbalance,” “Losing of any particular tree and animal … make,” and “When they extinct farmers had to face.” The sentence beginning “Science many of that ecosystem…” is especially hard to interpret because its structure is incomplete or malformed. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and forming complete clauses, particularly in longer sentences. Breaking complex explanations into two accurate sentences would improve clarity while still allowing you to demonstrate grammatical range.

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.