Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-07

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 6.5)

There are competing views on important environmental issues. Many people argue that loss of biodiversity is considered the main problem in the environment, while others say that there are other issues which are more concerning than that. Although loss of plants and animals are one of the main concern, I believe that there are other important problems like pollution which are the root cause of biodiversity loss.

On the one hand, loss of essential living organisms have a huge impact on our environment in several ways. In terms of plants, they are the great source of releasing O2 and absorbing CO2, a major contributor of global warming. If plants are damaged, it will affect our atmosphere due the accumulation of CO2 and reduction of O2 which is an essential component of human life. Likewise, animals are the main source of food and maintain biodiversity by commensalim and mutualism relationships. Losing them mean disturbing the overall food chain and food web. However, it is a necessary concern but there are other important problems which contribute to this issue. Therefore, tackling those issues will ultimately conserve the endangered species.

On the other hand, the rise in different types of pollution are considered more important problem. In other words, many people regard pollution as the main cause of problems such as air pollution and land pollution are impacting the ecosystem, including living and non-living things such as buildings. There are several things resulting in air pollution. For example, human activities, industrialization results in harmful smoke, traffic etc make environment polluted. This is why Lahore is considered the most polluted city in the entire world as day-by-day there is an increase in the amount of smog, fog and dirt in the air. This results in affecting the respiratory systems of living organisms and blocking the direct sunlight to plants, thereby halting photosynthesis and they die.

In conclusion, although current biodiversity loss of specific species is one of the concerning issue, I believe there are other environmental problems like pollution are more important because it is considered the main root cause of loss of plants and animals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses both views and gives a clear position: biodiversity loss is serious, but pollution is more important because it contributes to species decline. The discussion of plants’ role in absorbing carbon dioxide and animals’ place in food chains supports the first view, while the Lahore smog example gives the second view a relevant real-world illustration. This coverage and support are effective, though some claims are broad or not fully explained. For instance, the reference to animals maintaining biodiversity through “commensalim and mutualism relationships” is not clearly connected to the consequences of species loss, and the pollution discussion focuses mainly on air pollution rather than developing other environmental problems. More precise explanation of these points would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion that restates the writer’s position. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the argument, and the ideas generally progress from biodiversity loss to pollution and its effects. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “However, it is a necessary concern but there are other important problems” combines contrasting signals, while “In other words” introduces examples rather than a restatement. The sentence beginning “many people regard pollution as the main cause” also becomes difficult to follow. Clearer links between claims and examples, with more precise referencing, would make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “biodiversity,” “ecosystem,” “food chain,” “industrialization,” and “photosynthesis.” These terms help convey the environmental argument, and the example of “smog” adds specificity. There is also some attempt to use less common language, but several choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as “great source of releasing O2,” “commensalim,” and “the main root cause.” “Pollution” and “important problem” are repeated, limiting flexibility, and “fog and dirt” is imprecise in this context. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, but more accurate collocations and a wider range of precise alternatives would improve the vocabulary control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The essay attempts a mix of simple and complex structures, including conditional and cause-and-effect forms: “If plants are damaged, it will affect our atmosphere” and “thereby halting photosynthesis.” However, errors occur across the response, and complex sentences are not always controlled. Examples include “loss of plants and animals are one of the main concern,” “Losing them mean,” and “the rise in different types of pollution are considered,” where agreement is faulty. The sentence “many people regard pollution as the main cause of problems such as air pollution and land pollution are impacting the ecosystem” is structurally incomplete because two clauses are joined without a clear grammatical link. Review subject–verb agreement and simplify or restructure long sentences to improve accuracy.

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