Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-03

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)

A significant number of individuals believe that main environmental issue of our time is extinction of particular species of plants as well as animals while other think that there are more crucial environmental issues.

I personally believe that the main environmental issue of our time is extinction of different species due to the fact that every single specie plays vital role to balance the ecosystem and to protect the environment from harsh things and changes. As if due to hunting or deforestation, the specie of of snake extincts then the food chain will get disturbed as a result the population of rats will increase rapidly as no more snakes are there to control their population and it will create many problems.

On the other hands, there are also some other prolems which are the reasons for antrocious condition of environment as pollution, cutting of trees, habitate destruction, overhunting of animals. Pollutions include water pollution by adding toxic industrial chemicals which is most basic reason for the death of marine life. Similarly, air pollution by exhuasting the polluted air by the vehicles and industries in addition to it, land pollution is also important factor for the environmental problems. Othere environmental problems are radiations and cutting of trees.

At the end, i would say that extinction of particular species is the most important cause of environmental pollution. If we will not control the overhunting and habitat destruction then we will face the devastating concequences. We should take steps to protect our wild life and endangered species.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear personal view that species extinction is the most important environmental problem, and the snake-and-rat example helps explain how losing one species can disrupt a food chain. You also mention other relevant concerns, including pollution, deforestation and habitat destruction. However, the discussion of the opposing view is mostly a list rather than an explanation of why these problems might be considered more important. Your own position is clear, but the final paragraph largely repeats it instead of developing the comparison or adding a further reason. To strengthen the response, explain the wider effects of one competing problem, such as air pollution’s impact on human health, and directly compare its scale or urgency with species loss.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting your view, a paragraph on other environmental problems, and a conclusion. This makes the main direction understandable. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven, and the second body paragraph moves through several issues without showing how they relate or which are most significant. Some linking expressions are awkward or repetitive, such as “On the other hands” and “Similarly,” while “At the end” does not function naturally as a concluding transition. The long sentence beginning “Pollutions include water pollution” also combines several points without clear separation. Use topic sentences to establish each paragraph’s purpose, then connect examples to that purpose with accurate, varied transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant environmental vocabulary, including “extinction,” “ecosystem,” “food chain,” “deforestation,” “marine life” and “endangered species.” These terms help communicate the topic, and some attempts at more formal wording are evident. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear, including “harsh things and changes,” “basic reason,” and “extincts.” Spelling errors such as “habitate,” “exhuasting” and “concequences” are noticeable, and repeated use of “pollution” and “environmental problems” limits variety. Aim for precise, natural combinations and check spelling carefully. For example, describe species as becoming extinct, and use established terms such as “habitat loss” and “vehicle emissions” rather than less natural phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional explanation of how losing snakes could affect rat numbers. However, complex sentences are often difficult to control, and errors occur frequently enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “As if due to hunting or deforestation, the specie of of snake extincts then…” has an incomplete opening structure and problems with articles, number and verb form. The sentence beginning “Pollutions include…” also lacks clear grammatical boundaries between its ideas. There are further issues with agreement and sentence construction in “other think” and “If we will not control…”. Practise building accurate conditional sentences and separating long explanations into shorter, complete sentences; then check articles, subject–verb agreement and punctuation.

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