Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-02

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)

In the past decades, animal and plant extinction has become rampant. because of human activity and pollution. Therefore, some people say that it is the predominant issue, whereas others believe focussing on other environmental issues is crucial. This essay shall look into both perspectives. I however, side with the former view.

Conserving endangered species is essential, as they are part of our ecological chain. The removal of single species can set off a chain. For example, the gray wolf was once on the verge of extinction, but has now restored. These control the growing population of elk, which had been over consuming the trees that grew along streams. Moreover, the trees or plants are also the habitat for migratory birds. Beavers now have willow branches to eat, beaver dams create marshland habitat for otters and ducks. So, it can be seen that saving one species has led to benefit many other species and considering to be the major concern nowadays.

Furthermore, many animals are benefitting agriculture. Farmers are using insects and other animals that prey on certain crop yields, as well as using plants containing natural toxins that repel harmful insects. Thus, plants and animal species have their own unique value and so should be saved and considered.

On the other hand, in some nations, especially developing countries, human beings are still suffering from natural disasters, pollution and poverty. In Nepal, floods created a huge problem in people's lives. So, if limited budget of government is allocated on animal and plant conservation, many people will face much difficulty making a living. Consequently, many believe that protecting basic human rights and prioritizing other environmental problems should be on top rather than particular species.

In conclusion, protecting wildlife and vegetation is of great significance, as it is a vital cornerstone of the survival and future development of mankind. However, funds allocated for animal conservation should not come at the cost of basic needs of humans.

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 generally well-supported, particularly the example of the gray wolf, which effectively illustrates the ecological impact of species loss. However, the development of the second view—that other environmental problems are more pressing—is slightly less detailed than the first. While the mention of natural disasters and poverty in Nepal is a good example, the argument could have been strengthened by explicitly contrasting these with the urgency of biodiversity loss. Overall, the position is consistent throughout the essay, and the task requirements are met effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'On the other hand' are used appropriately to link arguments. However, there are minor issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the fragmented sentence 'because of human activity and pollution' in the first paragraph, which should have been joined to the preceding sentence. Despite this, the paragraphing is sufficient and the overall structure is coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses some topic-specific terms like 'ecological chain,' 'endangered species,' and 'natural toxins' effectively. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'has now restored' (should be 'has now been restored') and 'benefit many other species' (should be 'benefiting many other species'). While the range is sufficient to convey ideas clearly, the use of more sophisticated or precise collocations would elevate the score. The errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more careful attention to word forms and verb patterns.

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 'if limited budget of government is allocated on animal and plant conservation, many people will face much difficulty.' However, there are several grammatical slips, including missing articles ('if limited budget' should be 'if the limited budget') and punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary period after 'rampant.' While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly impede the reader's understanding. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on article usage and ensuring consistent verb tense and voice.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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