Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-11

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)

Some people debate that the main environmental problem of our current time is, extinction of some species of plants and animals but, In my opinion, there are far more important problems that needs attention like defrorestation and industrial emissions .

Loss of species is the result of environmental problems which happens, when climate change and disturbance in the ecosystem occur, it could affect different organisms.

For example, The passenger piegon that went extinct in 1914, the cause of its extinction was massive destruction of forests.To overcome in reduction of species we should grow more forests to give a suitable habitat for different species.

In my opinion, the main problems are cutting of trees which is the main source of oxygen for human and shelter for different animals and birds.Their destruction could results in affecting the climate which lead to extreme tempratures, floods and droughts in different areas .Furthermore, industrial emission of gases into air and other chemicals into water can affect the air quality and also water species which results in different health problems for human, animals and marine organisms.

So i think that reduction in diferent species is one of the result of cutting of trees , emission of gases and chemicals into air and water which effect different species and to prevent the damage to the environment, we should look into that problems and grow more trees and prevent keep in control the air qualty an water cquality which would help us keep the environment healthy and peacefull.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views by explaining that species loss is an environmental concern and then arguing that deforestation and pollution are more important underlying problems. Your position is clear in the opening and conclusion, and the passenger pigeon example gives relevant support. However, the two sides are not developed equally: the discussion of species loss is brief, and the explanation of why broader problems should take priority could be more fully reasoned. The proposed solutions—planting trees and controlling pollution—are relevant but are stated rather than explained. To strengthen the response, develop each view with a specific consequence or example, then make the comparison between species loss and its underlying causes more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on species loss, a paragraph on deforestation and emissions, and a concluding opinion. This makes the main line of argument understandable. Some connections, however, are mechanical or unclear. For example, the second paragraph moves from causes of species loss to the passenger pigeon and then to planting forests without clearly linking each point. The final paragraph repeats several ideas from the body rather than synthesising them, and phrases such as “So i think” make the conclusion feel conversational. Use clearer topic sentences and link each example directly to the claim it supports; vary transitions and avoid repeating the same list of problems.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant environmental vocabulary, including “extinction,” “ecosystem,” “habitat,” “industrial emission,” and “marine organisms,” which helps communicate the topic. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “massive destruction of forests.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “defrorestation,” “tempratures,” “diferent,” and “air qualty.” Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “reduction in species” and “keep in control the air quality.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the main ideas, but they reduce precision and fluency. Check spelling carefully and learn common environmental collocations, such as “decline in species populations,” “control emissions,” and “maintain air quality.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “when” and “which,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. For example, “problems that needs attention” should use a plural verb, while “the main environmental problem … is, extinction” has unnecessary punctuation and an awkward structure. In “Their destruction could results,” the modal should be followed by the base verb; the long final sentence also joins several ideas without clear punctuation. Practise building accurate complex sentences and check subject–verb agreement, verb forms after modals, and comma use. Greater control would make your argument easier to follow.

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