Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-23

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 6.0)

While the extinction of a major species of plants and animals have their cons on our environment, issues such as environmental pollution and drought are also major challenges we face in our environment. This essay will delve into both views and explore the kind of effect they have on the environment.

Plants such as aloe vera and bamboo tree leaves for instance, have long remained crucial in the treatment of various kinds of diseases such as sore throat and inflammed salivary tonsils. These plants save substantial costs for families that do not have the wherewithal to purse medical treatment, thus prefer the use of herbs.

On the other hand, animals such as dogs and goats are very vital for security. These animals help owners watch out for risks and also alert for signs of danger by barking and making high screams. When these animals are absent, certain properties are predisposed to risk as humans do not have the capabilities to sense dangers. Hence, the need to keep these animals,

Nevertheless, there are also a plethora of challenges that befall the environment that are more concerning. The issue of pollution and dry lands have made the cultivation of foods difficult. At first, pollution brings about a lot of detriments to the environment, starting from releasing unconducive and offensive gases in the air which can cause severe respiratory problems for individuals. Drought, which is a period of little or no rain, stunts the cultivation of food as moist lands are needed to grow food. The cost of irrigating lands is also a major issue as a lot of funding is needed to carry it out.

In conclusion, both plants and animals remain proficient in the environment, but their relevance do not supersede the urgent attention that pollution and drought need.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both views and provides a personal opinion, though the development is somewhat uneven. The focus on specific plants like 'aloe vera' and animals like 'dogs' is a bit narrow and does not fully capture the global scale of biodiversity loss, which is the core of the prompt. While the second body paragraph discusses pollution and drought, the connection between these and the loss of species could be more explicitly linked to satisfy the 'discuss' requirement more deeply. The position is clear, but the arguments could be more robustly supported with broader environmental concepts rather than focusing on domestic utility.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Nevertheless', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the internal cohesion within the second paragraph is a bit weak. For instance, the transition from discussing plants to animals is abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow could be improved by using more sophisticated linking phrases to connect the two opposing views more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'proficient in the environment' and 'making high screams'. While the student attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'wherewithal', 'predisposed', and 'plethora', these are not always used in the most natural context. Spelling is generally accurate, but the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors rather than more academic or precise terminology related to environmental science.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the extinction... have their cons', 'their relevance do not supersede') and minor punctuation errors, such as the trailing comma at the end of the second paragraph. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The control over complex structures is inconsistent, and the student would benefit from focusing on subject-verb agreement and more precise sentence construction.

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