Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-21
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)
Some people believed that the critical issue of environment of their time is the loss of existence of particular species of plants and animals. In my opinion, it is fact that loss of animals and plants are the major issue but I also believe the fact that there are much adverse effects of environmental problems like global warming.
The loss of different species from our ecosystem is quite a serious issue. The loss of species means the problem created in the ecosystem as a whole. For example, when one species such as honey bee extinct, the whole ecosystem will get disturbed. A single bee is crucial for the whole ecosystem. So, it must be well pointed and drives towards the conservation of the plants and animals to save the eco system.
Additionally, there are much more effects of the environment problems in the globe. The threat of increasing global warming the world is to be addressed and the world have to stand together for the solution. For example, the devastating flash flood arised in the Rasuwa district of Nepal occured on August 26, 2026. The main reason for the occurence is the melting of glaciers in the mountains situated in the China attached to the Rasuwa distrcit. The flash flood swept away thousands of people and houses within half an hour. Therefore, melting glaciers is the alarming problem due to the environmental degradation in the world.
In conclusion, the loss of different species of plants and animals indrectly affects the rise in the global warming in the world. The melting of glaciers and ice sheets need to be addressed soon and considered to the more important environmental problems.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—that the loss of specific species is the main environmental problem, and that there are more important issues such as global warming—while also providing a clear personal opinion. The student's ideas are generally relevant, but some points are somewhat underdeveloped or over-generalized. For instance, the example of the honey bee is introduced, but its connection to the overall argument is stated rather than fully extended. Similarly, the specific case study of the Rasuwa flash flood is interesting and relevant to global warming, but the link between melting glaciers and species loss could have been handled with more nuance in the conclusion. Overall, the task is adequately addressed, placing the response solidly at Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay has a coherent overall structure with clear paragraphing, dividing the introduction, two body paragraphs discussing each view, and a conclusion. However, the progression between ideas sometimes feels mechanical or disjointed due to repetitive use of cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'For example'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the phrase 'indrectly affects the rise in the global warming' lacks logical continuity with the preceding discussion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, but internal cohesion requires more flexibility and varied linking to reach a higher band. This corresponds to a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student displays an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'ecosystem', 'conservation', 'devastating', and 'environmental degradation'. However, there are notable word-choice and collocation errors, along with spelling mistakes (e.g., 'indrectly' instead of indirectly, 'occured' instead of occurred, 'extinct' used as a verb instead of 'become extinct'). Furthermore, phrases like 'the threat of increasing global warming the world is to be addressed' exhibit awkward phrasing. Because these errors do not severely impede communication, the vocabulary is sufficient for a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like conditional and relative clauses. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in tense, article usage, and prepositions, such as 'Some people believed' (tense shift), 'loss of animals and plants are the major issue' (subject-verb agreement), and 'arised in the Rasuwa district' (incorrect form of 'arise'). While these errors occasionally distract the reader, they rarely impede overall comprehension. This balance of a limited range of complex structures and frequent minor errors warrants a Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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