Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-25

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)

The issue of environmental problems has engendered considerable controversy in contemporary society, with divergent perspectives emerging regarding its overall significance. While one school of thought maintains that environmental issues should be viewed from one particular standpoint, another contends that an alternative perspective deserves greater recognition. In my view, although both positions possess a degree of legitimacy, the latter perspective is ultimately more compelling. This essay will critically examine both viewpoints before reaching a reasoned conclusion.

At the outset, advocates of environmental problems advance the contention that it constitutes a consequential aspect of modern society. Their standpoint is predominantly predicated upon the assumption that environmental challenges can exert a substantial influence on individuals and society at large. Moreover, proponents argue that its ramifications can transcend immediate circumstances and manifest themselves in multifaceted ways. From this perspective, therefore, environmental problems represents an indispensable consideration that should not be underestimated or dismissed without due deliberation.

Conversely, an opposing school of thought maintains that environmental problems should be approached from an entirely different perspective. The principal justification for this position is that its implications may be considerably more profound than they initially appear. Furthermore, supporters of this viewpoint contend that insufficient attention to the broader dimensions of environmental problems could give rise to unforeseen and potentially detrimental consequences. Consequently, this perspective has gained substantial recognition among those who believe that a more comprehensive approach is indispensable.

In conclusion, it is evident that environmental hardles remains an inherently multifaceted issue, capable of being interpreted from contrasting standpoints. Although the arguments presented by both sides possess a certain degree of validity, I remain of the view that the latter perspective is more convincing. Ultimately, a balanced and comprehensive consideration of environmental problems is indispensable if its broader implications are to be properly understood and appropriately addressed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to address the prompt regarding environmental problems, but fails to engage with the specific core topic outlined in the task: the loss of particular species of plants and animals versus other environmental problems. Instead of discussing biodiversity loss, the essay refers generically to 'environmental problems' and 'environmental hardles'. Consequently, the specific demands of the prompt are not met, as the essay remains entirely abstract and detached from the actual subject matter. While the writer formulates a clear personal position and uses a standard essay structure, the lack of task-specific content limits development. This falls under the Band 5 descriptor for Task Achievement because the response addresses the broad topic of the environment only partially and fails to discuss the specific issue requested.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a clear overall structure with a traditional introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, fulfilling the basic requirements of paragraphing. Cohesive devices are employed to link sentences and ideas, such as 'At the outset', 'Conversely', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and progression are somewhat mechanical. For instance, phrases like 'the latter perspective' and 'environmental problems' are repeated heavily without clear specific antecedents, due to the generalised nature of the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different viewpoints, but the overall cohesion feels formulaic rather than naturally flowing. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors, featuring a coherent overall arrangement and logical progression, despite somewhat mechanical cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used throughout the essay is repetitive and heavily reliant on generic academic boilerplate phrases, such as 'engendered considerable controversy', 'divergent perspectives', and 'predicated upon the assumption'. Crucially, the student fails to demonstrate the specific lexical field required by the prompt, lacking words related to biodiversity, extinction, flora, fauna, and conservation. There are also slight colocation issues and lexical errors, such as the misspelling 'environmental hardles' in the conclusion. While the general academic tone is maintained, the range of vocabulary is limited and lacks the precision needed for a higher band. This corresponds to a Band 5, as the vocabulary is minimally adequate for the task but lacks flexibility and topic-specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates a satisfactory control of complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses and passive constructions effectively, such as 'While one school of thought maintains that...' and 'the latter perspective is ultimately more compelling.' Grammatical accuracy is generally maintained for simple and moderately complex structures, with punctuation used correctly throughout. Although there is a noticeable lack of variety in subject matter due to the abstract nature of the response, the actual grammatical structures attempted are largely controlled and free of frequent errors that impede communication. This reflects a solid Band 6 performance, showing a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with good control over overall punctuation and grammar.

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