Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-06

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)

In the modern era it is often argued that the extinction of specific flora and fauna is the major reason for critical ecological crisis. while the loss of biodiversity undoubtedly threatens natural ecosystems, I believe that other environmental challenges such as global warming and widespread pollution, pose an even greater and more immediate threat to the planet.

Firstly the proponents of prioritizing species preservation argued that the extinction of various species played a significant role in effecting our ecosystem. Every specie, no matters how small , plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of food web. Every organism plays a vital role in ecosystem through functions like pollination, seed dispersal and pest control. If a particular specie disappears, it can trigger dominate effect on the entire habitat. For instance, the decline in global bee populations directly threatens agricultural productivity as they are natural pollinators. Consequently the loss of individual specie can lead to ecosystem collapse.

On the other hand the environmental experts in modern era believe that there are much more

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which severely limits your ability to develop your ideas. While you have introduced the topic and stated a clear position, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly in the second body paragraph. You have not discussed the second view (that other problems are more important) or provided a conclusion. Because the task is not fully addressed due to the length, the development of ideas is insufficient. To improve, you must ensure you complete all parts of the prompt, including a balanced discussion and a clear conclusion, while meeting the minimum word count.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay shows a logical start, with a clear introduction and a well-structured first body paragraph. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Consequently', and 'For instance' effectively to link ideas. However, because the essay is unfinished, the overall progression is interrupted. Paragraphing is used correctly, but the lack of a second body paragraph and a conclusion prevents a full assessment of your ability to organize a complete argument. To reach a higher band, focus on completing the essay structure and ensuring that transitions between paragraphs are smooth and logical.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'flora and fauna', 'ecological crisis', 'biodiversity', and 'agricultural productivity'. There are some minor errors, such as 'every specie' (should be 'every species') and 'dominate effect' (should be 'dominant effect'). While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary, the limited length of the response restricts the range of vocabulary you can display. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure you use singular and plural forms correctly, such as 'species' which remains 'species' in both singular and plural contexts.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'If a particular specie disappears, it can trigger a dominant effect...'. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'proponents... argued' (should be 'argue' for a general truth) and 'no matters' (should be 'no matter'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though there are minor issues with spacing before commas. The errors present do not significantly impede communication, but they do show a lack of consistent control. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that complex sentence structures are grammatically sound.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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