Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

People nowadays seem to be divided on the opinions about the main environmental issue of the time. Some consider it to be the loss of particular species of plants and animals, while others say that there are more important environmental problems. I concur with the latter one that there are more important environmental issues like urbanization and pollution.

Those who consider the loss of particular species of animals and plants as main environmental problem argue that there are certain types of plant and animal species that help in maintaining the ecosystem. The extinction of these species can lead to imbalance in the food hierarchy of animals. This will disrupt the nature and lead to environmental problems. For example, the extinction of snakes will result in increase of population of mice, because snakes eat them. This will lead to environmental hazards because of harmful effects of mice on environment. This is an important issue, however, there are more important environmental issues present in the current world.

In contrast to that, Urbanization should be considered the main environmental hazard currently. As this results in conversion of natural habitats into artificial cities. Forests are cut down therefore contributing in the destruction of animals and plants habitat. It also increases the pollution in land, water and air. In instance, a new city built on a forest land will result in death of animals and plants as well as pollute the air, land and water resulting in a large number of diseases.

We can say that both the opinions focus on important environmental problems but there are more important environmental hazards than loss of certain species of animals and plants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention urbanization and pollution as alternative problems, the explanation remains quite general. For instance, the example of snakes and mice is a bit simplistic and does not fully explore the complexity of biodiversity loss. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced arguments and deeper analysis of why urbanization might be considered a more pressing threat than species extinction, perhaps by discussing the scale of habitat destruction or the irreversibility of climate change impacts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'In contrast to that' and 'For example' to link ideas. However, the progression between sentences can feel a bit mechanical at times. Some transitions are slightly repetitive, and the concluding paragraph is quite brief, failing to fully synthesize the arguments presented. To improve, try to use a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'extinction', 'urbanization', and 'ecosystem' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'divided on the opinions' (should be 'divided in their opinions') and 'in instance' (should be 'for instance'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Incorporating more topic-specific collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would significantly enhance your lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('in increase of population', 'on forest land') and minor punctuation issues. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on article usage and subject-verb agreement. Additionally, try to incorporate more varied complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, to demonstrate greater control over your grammatical range.

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

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