Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

It is undeniable that some individuals believe that nowadays the major environmental issue is losing significant species of animals and plants. While others reckon that there are other problems that are more crucial. In this essay, I will discuss both of these views before presenting my own.

To commence with, the extinction of certain flora and fauna is considered a real threat that can affect human life and the future. Plenty of species have been becoming extinct for decades, and this trend has been continuing until now, which can be very harmful for the next generation because they would not be able to see certain types of lions, tigers, birds, or trees. As long as the new generation isn’t familiar with the important role of nature, they won’t care enough about it. Therefore, the processes of destruction, deforestation, and illegal hunting won’t be stopped.

Moreover, some may argue that there are more challenging problems to be solved. Such as air pollution, overpopulation, and global warming, which all have a direct impact on the environment. As we can observe, now in the metropolitan cities we are facing an increasing amount of population, which can cause air and noise pollution. Also, the earth is becoming warmer gradually, and it may eventually lead to the melting of the ice and glaciers in the poles, which may cause future flows. However, in my opinion, all of these problems are also related to animals and plants because if they are able to live on the earth, humans can too.

In conclusion, I believe although there are a number of environmental issues that we have to overcome, if we solve the problem of extinction, the other difficulties will be fixed too.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument that solving extinction will automatically fix other environmental problems is asserted but not logically supported or explained in depth. The essay would benefit from more specific examples or a more nuanced exploration of the relationship between biodiversity loss and broader issues like climate change. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack the depth required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the final conclusion and the preceding arguments is a bit abrupt, as the conclusion introduces a new, sweeping claim that was not fully developed in the body paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'flora and fauna', 'extinction', 'deforestation', and 'metropolitan cities'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'future flows' (likely intended to be 'floods') and 'the processes of destruction'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning but lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Plenty of species have been becoming extinct' (present perfect continuous is less natural here than simple present or present perfect) and 'the earth is becoming warmer gradually' (word order). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some minor errors in sentence construction. While the errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. A wider variety of error-free complex structures would be needed to reach the next band.

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.