Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-28

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 4.0)

In modern times, the issu of environment has become highly controversial. There are those who say that environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. However, other people believe that there are more essential environmental problems. In this essay I will examine both sides and provide my overall opinion.

Generally speaking, there are two main reasons why people believe that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Perhaps the main reason why people are in favor of this idea because if many animals or plants loss our earth, we will be face many problems. For example, we don't have fullfil oxyzen for particular plants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You introduce both viewpoints and signal that you will give your opinion, so the response is relevant to the question. However, the discussion is only begun: the first view receives a brief, unclear explanation, while the view that other environmental problems are more important and your own opinion are not developed. The example about plants and oxygen could support the first view, but it needs explanation of how species loss affects ecosystems or people. The response also contains 88 words, below the required 250; 33 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. To improve, address both views, state your position clearly, and support each main point with a developed reason or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

The opening gives the reader a basic route through the response: it introduces the disagreement and says that both sides will be examined. The paragraph beginning “Generally speaking” also signals a move into the first viewpoint, and “For example” introduces an illustration. However, the essay stops before the promised discussion and opinion, so there is no complete progression from one view to the other or to a conclusion. Some linking is also awkward: “Perhaps the main reason why…” is followed by an incomplete explanation, making the relationship between the claim and example difficult to follow. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs for each view and your opinion, and connect each reason to its supporting example.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “environmental problem,” “loss of particular species,” and “plants and animals,” and the meaning is generally recoverable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “highly controversial” and “in favor of this idea.” However, the short response offers limited range and includes spelling and word-choice errors that reduce precision: “issu,” “fullfil,” and “oxyzen” are difficult to interpret, while “plants loss our earth” does not express the intended idea naturally. Build a more accurate environmental vocabulary and check spelling. For example, you could refer to “biodiversity loss,” “ecosystems,” and “oxygen production” when explaining the consequences of species decline.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including the contrast introduced by “However” and the clause beginning “why people believe.” The opening sentences are mostly understandable, and the reader can identify the intended topic. However, several grammatical patterns are not controlled: “the main reason … because” lacks a complete construction, “if many animals or plants loss” has an incorrect verb form, and “we will be face” uses an incorrect future structure. The final example is also difficult to parse because its clause structure is incomplete. Practise forming conditional sentences and checking subject–verb patterns; for instance, “If many species disappear, ecosystems will be affected” gives a clear model.

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