Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-12

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)

Many people today debate what the most serious environmental issue is. Some individuals argue that the disappearance of specific plant and animal species is the main concern, while others believe that other environmental problems, such as global warming and pollution, are much more significant. In my opinion, while loss of biodiversity is serious, issues like climate change pose a greater overall threat.

On the one hand, protecting endangered plants and animals is critical for keeping ecosystems balanced. Every species plays a specific role in nature, and when one species goes extinct, it can cause a domino effect that harms many others. For example, if bees disappear, plant pollination would decrease significantly, which would hurt global food production and cause serious problems for humans. Furthermore, many plants are used in modern medicine, so losing rare species means losing potential cures for serious diseases.

On the other hand, many people argue that global environmental issues like climate change and plastic pollution are more dangerous. Global warming causes rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and severe droughts, which affect millions of human lives and damage the planet on a global scale. Additionally, pollution in rivers and oceans harms whole marine ecosystems rather than just one single species. These broad issues affect entire regions of the world, making them feel more urgent to many experts.

In conclusion, the loss of individual plant and animal species is certainly a serious concern because of its impact on ecosystem balance and human resources. However, I believe that broad environmental threats like climate change and global pollution are more critical problems because they threaten all living organisms across the planet, including human civilization.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—the loss of specific plant and animal species versus broader environmental problems like global warming—and clearly presents the writer's own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well developed and extended appropriately. For instance, the paragraph supporting biodiversity provides a clear, logical example regarding bees and pollination, as well as the medical value of rare plants. The opposing view is equally well elaborated by citing rising sea levels and ocean pollution. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, meeting all the requirements for a Band 7.0 or 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the first view, the second view, and finally the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," and "Furthermore" are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is managed logically and appropriately. Referencing is clear, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are easy to follow. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as "domino effect," "ecosystem balanced," and "global scale" show an ability to use less common lexical items related to environmental topics. While there are occasional slightly generic expressions, word choice is generally appropriate and effectively conveys the intended meaning without impeding communication. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the text, warranting a solid Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer employs a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses ("while loss of biodiversity is serious, issues like climate change pose...") and conditional structures ("if bees disappear..."). There is a high proportion of error-free sentences, and the grammar and punctuation are controlled well. Although a wider deployment of truly sophisticated syntactic structures could elevate the score further, the current level of accuracy and range strongly reflects the descriptors for Band 7.0.

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.