Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-30

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)

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species ,while on the other hand some say this is caused by other environmental problems .Actually this topic is open for debate. In the few paragraphs I will discuss it as I can.

First of all, by losing some particular species such as plants and animals also cause problems in environment. For example, if our environment is losing plants to whom we are affected badly cause change in seasons and this can cause whole change in climate. An other example, fishes in ocean also cause change in ocean environment. Like whale fish is know at the end of death. So changings like this can cause problems in environment. We should be aware of them, so that we can protect our environment.

Second of all, other problems also caused change in environment. Like the smoke which is released by different industries and source of transporting can cause several problem and one of the main cause of change in seasons. In the past when I was small there were four seasons in our country ,now because of smoke there are only two season summer and winter. An other example is polluted water, it is also one of the reason of changing in environment. When contaminated water leach into the ground it effected aquatic life and fields also.

In conclusion, I greatly agree with the saying that there are more important environmental problems. If we solve these problems like polluted water and stop releasing smoke in environment, then we can also save other species.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments regarding species loss and industrial pollution are somewhat superficial and lack specific, well-explained examples. For instance, the mention of 'whale fish' is scientifically inaccurate and vague, and the personal anecdote about seasons is anecdotal rather than analytical. To reach a higher band, you need to provide more depth in your reasoning, explaining the causal links between environmental issues and their broader impacts on the ecosystem more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'First of all', 'Second of all', and 'An other example'. Some transitions are awkward, such as 'Actually this topic is open for debate', which does not effectively link to the prompt. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed, making the flow feel slightly unnatural. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'problems', 'change', and 'badly'. There are also instances of incorrect word choice or collocation, such as 'whale fish' (whales are mammals) and 'source of transporting' (should be 'transportation'). To improve, you should focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology related to environmental science, such as 'biodiversity loss', 'industrial emissions', or 'ecological imbalance', rather than relying on general, repetitive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('other problems also caused change'), article usage ('the smoke', 'the environment'), and awkward phrasing ('to whom we are affected badly'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly verb tenses and pluralisation.

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.