Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-19

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)

Many individuals argue that negative impacts in ecosystem in the twenty first century is due to the extinction of specific species of flora and fauna while some say there are other factors negatively affecting our ecosystem. Although the loss of vegetation and wildlife has a significant impact current problems should also be a factor for consideration.

During the medieval times where people were looking to entertain themselves hunting became a famous sport. Humans hunted various animals for fun which caused a lot of species to go extinct. Likewise, forest fires and urbanization during later times caused the loss of vegetation as well as the loss of habitat for wildlife which resulted in their permanent loss. For example, the dodo bird which had no known natural predators and lived in a separate island were lost to history because of mankind. Another such example is string wood a type of plant which is now considered extinct.

Meanwhile, some people argue that things of past should remain there and we should focus on what's on hand. Currently, there are various plants and animals that are either labelled endangered or are on the verge of extinction. Because of increasing industrialization and rise in AI popularity there has been a surge in numerous issues that include loss of habitation for wildlife, polluted water,and increasing global warming.

As much one believes certain problems are due to the loss of wildlife and vegetation from before, we can't just ignore the problem at hand. I believe instead of focusing on the past events making sure the problems for today are solved creates a better chance for future survival of mankind. What has been lost cannot be brought back but we can focus on bettering the things of today.

In conclusion, we as society should focus on decreasing the problems of today so we can have a better tomorrow instead of lamenting about the past events that has already run its course

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 uneven. The first body paragraph focuses heavily on historical extinction, while the second paragraph attempts to address 'other' environmental problems but remains vague, mentioning 'AI popularity' and 'industrialization' without explaining how these are more pressing than species loss. The argument could be strengthened by providing more specific, contemporary examples of environmental issues (e.g., climate change or plastic pollution) to contrast with the loss of biodiversity. The position is consistent, but the depth of analysis is limited, preventing it from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Likewise,' 'Meanwhile,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the logical progression between the historical focus of the first body paragraph and the modern focus of the second could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the 'past' and 'present' arguments could be more tightly integrated to improve the overall flow of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at topic-specific language like 'flora and fauna,' 'extinction,' and 'urbanization.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'things of past' and 'things of today,' which are too informal for an academic essay. Additionally, the phrase 'string wood' appears to be a misnomer or an obscure reference, which slightly impacts clarity. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise academic collocations and avoid overly simplistic phrasing when discussing complex environmental concepts.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'negative impacts in ecosystem... is due to' should be 'are due to') and missing articles (e.g., 'lived in a separate island' should be 'on a separate island'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are minor errors like missing spaces after commas. While the errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the essay from reaching the 7.0 band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and article usage would be beneficial.

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