Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-11

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)

Man through ages, has undergone many changes including species loss and other environmental issues. Some people thinks that the loss of species is a paramount problem and other think that their are more huge problems in environment. However, in my stand point the loss of species is a extremely significant issue and we should take care about this aspect.

Firstly, the decreasing different species plays important role in the food cycle of different other animals including humans. The extinction of them increased the death ratio of other animals and also some countries are facing many food issues like lack of food resources. Moreover, the loss of different animals and plants also effected the medicine industry as they contains many useful compounds which can be used for the formation of vital medicine. For instance, the decreasing rate of some forest herbs effected the medical field dramatically.

Turning to the other side of the point, the other environmental dilemmas are also crucial like global warming, depletion of ozone layer and pollution etc. To be more precise, these issue are huge problems but numerous countries are controlling it in a extremely professional way. In addition, people are extremely alert about pollution and taking quick actions to control the pollution. For instance, the use of electric cars is applied to control the air pollution because it cannot produce smoke and it is totally safe for the environment.

In conclusion, the both aspects of environmental hurdles are significant but in my opinion, the loss of species is bigger because we cannot control it as compared to the other environmental problems which can be controlled

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the importance of species for the food chain and medicine, the arguments could be more thoroughly extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis. The discussion of other environmental problems is also a bit brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph provides a more detailed explanation of why these issues are significant, rather than just stating they are 'huge' or 'crucial'. Your position is clear throughout, which is a positive aspect of your writing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'Turning to the other side', and 'In conclusion' to link your points. However, some of the transitions feel a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the final sentence of the essay is incomplete, which disrupts the coherence of the conclusion. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring all sentences are fully formed will help improve the overall flow and structure of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'paramount', 'extinction', 'depletion', and 'dramatically'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'death ratio' instead of 'extinction rate' or 'mortality rate', and 'lack of food resources' which is slightly repetitive. You also use 'huge' and 'extremely' quite frequently, which limits the sophistication of your vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid overusing common intensifiers. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you express your ideas with greater precision and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('Some people thinks', 'other think', 'they contains'), article usage ('the medicine industry'), and pluralization ('the decreasing different species'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'Man through ages, has undergone'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately without missing components.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.