Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-03

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)

Accordingly, it is generally argued that the most environmental problem is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. I tend to agree with this very first notion.

In the first place, the most significant environmental problem is the loss of species of plants and animals, because they are the main source of human living of life. For example, if plants will be damaged by pollution or other environmental issues, then, humans where will fulfil their oxygen needs?. Thus, it is pertinent to mention that oxygen is very important for living of humans.

In addition to the previous point, if the species of animals will be lost, then where will humans fulfill their food needs. For Instance, the cow species will be finishing over time, it will be very dangerous for humans because meat are the main source of protien obtained from cows. On the other hand, if we need butter, ghee, yogurt, cheese, cream, mawa and ice cream to make all of this, milk will be needed, and its source is also the cow. Hence, there is no denying the fact that animal is also important for providing protien, minerals, vitamins and fat necessary for humans survival.

On the other hand, other environmental problems include air pollution, noise pollution, cliamate change, global warming, water scarcity and plastic waste. For examples, smoke from factories and vehicals damages to air quality, causing respiratory diseases and smog. Global warming is also affecting the global temperature. Therefore, we may consider this point valid to say that clean air and maintaining climate is very crucial for human survival.

In a nutshell, after considering all the above-mentioned arguments we can reach a logical conclusion that protecting our environment and animal species is essential for human survival.

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 simplistic. The argument regarding biodiversity focuses almost exclusively on human utility (food and oxygen), which limits the depth of the discussion. While the prompt asks for a discussion of environmental problems, the essay treats the two sides as separate lists rather than engaging in a nuanced comparison. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To improve, you should explore the broader ecological or ethical implications of species loss versus the immediate impact of issues like climate change.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'In the first place', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' are used to signal transitions. However, some of these devices are used mechanically, and the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. For instance, the transition from the discussion of cows to the conclusion is abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within paragraphs could be more sophisticated to better connect the examples to the broader arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'main', 'important', and 'dangerous'. Some word choices are awkward or incorrect, such as 'finishing over time' instead of 'becoming extinct' or 'human living of life'. The list of dairy products is unnecessary and does not contribute to the academic tone of the essay. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to environmental science and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'the most environmental problem' (missing noun), 'humans where will fulfil' (incorrect word order), and 'meat are the main source' (subject-verb agreement). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are issues with comma usage and sentence fragments. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band score for accuracy.

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