Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Some people believe that the disappearance of particular species of plants and animals are the most serious environmental issue facing the world today. Others argue that problem such as climate change, pollution and deforestation are more important. Although the loss of biodiversity is extremely concerning, I believe that broader environmental problems deserves greater priority because they affect both humans and natural world on a much larger scale.

On one hand, the extraction of plant and animal species can have serious permanent consequences. Every species play a role in its ecosystem, so the loss of one organism may disturb the balance of nature. For example, the decline of bees and other pollinating insects can reduces the reproduction of plants and threaten agricultural production. In addition, extinct species can not be restored, which means future generation will lose valuable natural resources and scientific opportunities. For these reasons, biodiversity loss is rightly regarded as a major environmental threat.

On the other hand, many people consider climate change, pollution and habitat destruction to be more urgent problem. Global warming is causing rising temperatures, extreme weather and a melting of ice, while air pollution is contributes to respiratory diseases and immature deaths. Similarly, plastic and chemical waste can contaminate rivers and oceans, harming both wildlife and people. These problems are also closely connected to extinction of species because pollution, change in temperature and deforestation destroy the habitat on which animals and plants depend. Therefore, solving these wider issues could help prevent the wider loss of diversity.

In conclusion, the extinction of species is an irreversible and highly damaging problem. Nevertheless, I believe that climate change, pollution and deforestation are more important priorities because they affect human health, ecosystem and biodiversity simultaneously.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

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 well-developed, particularly the link between broader environmental issues and biodiversity loss. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, real-world examples (e.g., naming a specific region or a particular climate agreement) to further extend the arguments. The conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points and reinforces the writer's stance, ensuring the task is fully satisfied.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand,' 'In addition,' 'Similarly,' and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the clarity of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Terms like 'biodiversity,' 'pollinating insects,' 'agricultural production,' and 'irreversible' are used correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'extraction of plant and animal species' (which sounds unnatural in this context) and 'immature deaths' (likely meaning 'premature deaths'). Despite these occasional slips, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'disappearance... are,' 'problem... are,' 'every species play,' 'can reduces,' 'air pollution is contributes'). Additionally, there are minor errors with articles and pluralization (e.g., 'the natural world,' 'extinction of species'). While these errors are frequent, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the main arguments. To improve, the student should focus on proofreading for basic agreement and verb form consistency.

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

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