Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-13

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)

There are people who believe the extinction of particular species of plants and animals is the main environmantal problem. However, others argue that there are other problems that need to focus on first. In my view, although, scientists may have concerns about losing their scientific research, air and water pollution are greater problems and the root cause of the extinction.

-I believe pollution has more impact than the loss of species

On the one hand, some individuals believe particular species of plants and animals suffering from extinction is the most important environmental problems.

-People who close to these livings aware the loss of scientific research in wildlife.

-they devote their time to exploring animal and plant habitants.

-Losing some species may affact to their research and bring setbacks to biological development

-For instance, some species of plants can be used to produce medicine. They need to live in appropriate environment. after the climate is changing nowadays, an decrease of these species can cause troubles to medical production. As a result, scientists worries about a lack of medical suppies.

-On the other hand, some people argue that there are bigger environmental problems than extinction of particular species.

-they pay attention to the root of this extinction that is pollution, one of the biggest causes.

-air and water are esstential for every species in the world, they breath with oxygen in the air and consume water in their daily life.

-when air and water are polluted, a lack of these supplies can lead to extinction of all livings.

-For example, nowadays, air pollution become widespread across the world because of an increasing number of industrial economy which release toxic gases to the air. When polluted air covers forest areas, animals and plants may die from a lack of fresh air.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both views and gives a clear opinion: pollution is presented as more serious because it contributes to species loss. The discussion of extinction includes a relevant point about plants used in medicine, while the pollution side explains how contaminated air and water threaten living things. These examples keep the answer on topic. However, the two positions are not developed equally: the first view is largely framed around scientists’ research and medical production, rather than explaining more broadly why biodiversity loss itself is a major environmental problem. The claim that pollution can cause the extinction of “all livings” is also too sweeping. To strengthen the response, explain the wider consequences of species loss and support the comparison with more precise, qualified reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph for each view, and a concluding position stated at the beginning. The contrast between the views is clear through “On the one hand” and “On the other hand.” However, the hyphenated planning-style notes interrupt the flow and make the body paragraphs read like lists rather than connected arguments. Several points are presented as separate statements, with limited explanation of how one leads to the next. The final section also ends with an example rather than a concluding paragraph that brings the discussion back to the writer’s opinion. Use complete, connected paragraphs, link each example explicitly to its main point, and finish with a concise conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant topic vocabulary, including “extinction,” “scientific research,” “biological development,” and “air and water pollution,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “toxic gases” and “medical production.” However, inaccurate word forms, spelling, and collocations are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning less natural: “environmantal,” “affact,” “animal and plant habitants,” and “an increasing number of industrial economy” are examples. Some wording is also imprecise, such as “all livings” and “supplies” for air and water. Build accuracy by checking spelling and choosing natural collocations, and use precise terms such as “wildlife habitats,” “species,” and “industrial activity.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and complex sentences, including a concession in the introduction (“although…”) and a cause-and-effect example beginning “When polluted air covers forest areas.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but grammatical control is uneven. Errors include subject–verb agreement in “scientists worries,” article and number problems in “an decrease,” and incomplete or awkward sentence construction in “air and water are essential… they breath…” The opening also uses “although” in a way that leaves the sentence structure unclear. Most ideas rely on short, list-like clauses, so the range of sentence patterns remains limited. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, checking agreement and articles, and combining related points with accurate subordinate clauses.

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