Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-13

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 6.5)

The idea of environmental problem's of our time has long been debated, with some arguing that the loss of particular species of plants and animals is the main issue whilst some suggest that there are more important environmental problems. Both perspectives have merit, though I believe a balanced integration of the two is the most effective approach.

First and foremost, the extinction of certain species and plants is widely regarded as the most serious environmental issues of our time. Different organisms are interconnected, meaning the loss of one species significant impacts the rest of the ecosystem. For example, a decline in pollinating insects can affect the reproduction of plants and, consequently, agricultural production. Moreover, extinction is irreversible hence leading to a permeant change.

On the other hand, it can be seen that there is significantly more important environmental issues. Climate change, in particular, affects virtually every region of the world and can lead to rising temperatures, extreme weather and rising sea levels. It can also contribute to the loss of habitats. Similarly, air and water pollution can directly threaten human health while simultaneously damaging ecosystems. For example, air pollution caused by industrial institutes such as factories emit massive amounts of green house gases affecting air quality.

In conclusion, although the extinction of plants and animals is a serious environmental concern, I believe that issues such as climate change and pollution are more significant because of their far-reaching effects. Governments should therefore prioritise tackling these problems while continuing to protect endangered species.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the connection between pollinating insects and agriculture, or the link between climate change and habitat loss. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development could be slightly more nuanced; for instance, explaining why climate change is 'more' significant rather than just listing its effects would strengthen the argument. Overall, the task is well-handled with a clear structure and logical progression of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. Referencing is generally clear, though there are minor issues with pluralization and article usage that occasionally make the flow feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing viewpoints and the writer's own stance.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, with some good topic-specific terms like 'pollinating insects', 'irreversible', 'ecosystem', and 'green house gases'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and form, such as 'environmental problem's' (incorrect apostrophe), 'significant impacts' (should be 'significantly impact'), and 'permeant' (spelling error for 'permanent'). While the range is sufficient to convey ideas clearly, the occasional errors in word formation and collocation prevent it from reaching a higher band. The use of 'industrial institutes' is also slightly unnatural in this context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'Different organisms are interconnected, meaning the loss of one species significantly impacts the rest of the ecosystem.' However, there are several grammatical slips, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'there is significantly more important environmental issues' (should be 'there are') and 'the most serious environmental issues' (should be 'issue'). Punctuation is generally fine, but these recurring grammatical errors, while not impeding communication, are frequent enough to keep the score in the 6.0-6.5 range.

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