Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-07

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)

Over the life of our planet, there were multiple species of plants and animals which are no longer with us. This makes many people believe that, in fact, the main environmental problem of our time is the extinction of such species, whereas other people believe that there are other issues that need more concern compared to it. Though the extinction of such species is a grave matter, I hold the view that when it comes to environmental conservation, there are some other issues that need to be resolved first.

Supporters of species conservation make their point by presenting the case of all the kinds of fellow inhabitants of the earth we lost, and only if we had been a little more careful, we would have preserved their kind. For example, polar bears and African lions are on the verge of extinction, so governments are making special efforts to make sure no harm in any way reaches them from our doings, thus slowing down their population's decay. They believe taking such measures and being cautious of a creature's numbers is what will keep the balance of life on the planet Earth.

On the other hand, issues like global warming and carbon emissions are the more concerning issues for many people. They argue that first and foremost humans should put the maximum amount of their effort into making their lives better and protecting ourselves from upcoming environmental hazards. For instance, currently, Nepal is facing a major flood that has wiped out a huge amount of areas and is continuing to cause more destruction. Only if we had the right technology and strategies to mitigate such challenges, we would have saved hundreds of human lives.

In conclusion, both sides are right in their own way. The preservation of endangered species is of crucial importance for the balance nature maintains, and we should never neglect it, but I believe that catastrophic environmental hazards like floods and earthquakes are issues that cause destruction beyond human life, and their resolution should be our top priority.

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 position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the discussion on global warming and human-centric environmental hazards. However, the development of the first view (species extinction) is slightly less detailed than the second. To reach a higher band, ensure that the arguments for both sides are balanced in terms of depth and supporting evidence. Overall, the response effectively communicates the writer's perspective while fulfilling the requirements of the task.

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 topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that the reader can follow the argument without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility in expression. Phrases like 'grave matter', 'verge of extinction', and 'mitigate such challenges' demonstrate a good command of topic-specific language. There are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'make sure no harm in any way reaches them from our doings', which is slightly wordy and unnatural. However, the range of vocabulary is adequate to convey precise meanings, and the errors do not impede communication. Using more precise collocations would further enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over grammar, and the majority of sentences are clear. However, there are some minor errors, such as the use of 'only if we had been a little more careful, we would have preserved their kind', which is a slightly awkward construction of a third conditional. Additionally, 'wiped out a huge amount of areas' is grammatically imprecise. Despite these occasional slips, the errors are not frequent enough to cause difficulty for the reader, and the overall grammatical control is solid.

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.