Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-29

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 ARGUE 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. BOTH OF THESE VIEWS HAS BEEN DISCUSED BELOW.

INDUSTRIALIZATION HAS LED TO MANY DRAMATIC CHANGES IN THE WORLD FROM HARDWARE TO SOFTWARE AND FROM FACTORIES TO HEALTH CARE. WE HUMANS MADE MANY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY THAT ALSO MADE THERE LIVES EASIER TO LIVE BUT ALSO IT CAME WITH A COST.

FOR INSTANCE : THE INVENTION OF STEAM ENGINE MADE THE TRANSPORTATION IT ALSO REDUCED DURATION OF TRAVEL FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. ON THE NEGATIVE NOTE THE STEAM ENGINE USES LOT OF COAL TO RUN THE RELEASES HARMFUL POLUTANTS INTO THE AIR THAT LEADS TO THE AIR POLLUTION. SIMILARLY THE FACTORIES EHICH RUNS ON STEAM ENGINES AND ALSO THEY CONSUME MORE WATER AND DISPOSES THE WASTE INTO THE SAME SOIL WHERE MANY PEOPLE LIVE DUE THIS MANY PEOPLE DRINK THAT WATER AND ARE SUFFERING FROM MANY DISEASES LIKE KIDNEY PROBLEMS AND BRAIN PROBLEMS.

MANY PEOPLE ARE BUILDING THEIR HOUSES WITH WOOD ESPECIALLY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES LIKE AMERICA AND CANADA HOUSES ARE BUILD WITH WOOD LIKE TIMEBER WOOD WHERE THEY NEED CUT A LOT AMOUNT OF TREES WHICH LEADS TO DEFORESTATION. DUE TO THUS MANY ANIMALS LIVING IN FOREST ARE LOSING THEIR FOOD AND SHELTER AND THEY ARE COMING ON ROADS AND DISTURBING HUMANS. FOR INSTANCE THE DODO BIRD IS DISAPPEARED BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE HUNTING FOR FOOD THIS BIRD BECAME EXTINCT. SIMILARLY ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE TIGERS NEEDS AT MOST CARE AND WE NEED TO PRESERVE THIS SPECIES AS IT COMPLETELY LOST THEIR BREED.

TO CONCLUDE, WE HUMANS ARE POLLUTING WATER, AIR AND LAND FOR OUR DAILY NEED BUT MANY FLORA AND FAUNA ARE DAMAGED. WE NEED TO PROTECT THEM FOR HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing industrialisation and environmental damage alongside the loss of specific species, although the two opposing views mentioned in the introduction are not fully balanced or deeply analysed. The writer presents a clear position towards the end, noting that humans are damaging the environment and that flora and fauna must be protected. However, the discussion tends to wander into broad pollution issues rather than strictly contrasting whether species loss is the single most important problem compared to others. Ideas are relevant but remain somewhat superficial and lack full extension. For instance, the mention of the steam engine and timber houses introduces ideas, but they are not deeply connected to the core debate of species loss versus other major environmental concerns. Consequently, this performance aligns best with the Band 6 descriptors for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays an overall coherent arrangement, moving from an introduction to body paragraphs discussing industrial impacts and deforestation, and concluding with a summary. However, paragraphing is somewhat irregular, with the second body paragraph being overly long and containing multiple distinct ideas. Cohesive devices are used, but they are occasionally mechanical or faulty, such as 'ON THE NEGATIVE NOTE' and 'DUE TO THUS'. Referencing is also confusing at times, for instance when discussing wooden houses and shifting abruptly to the dodo bird without clear transitional logic. Progression is evident, but the lack of precise cohesive control and structural precision keeps the organizational quality at a Band 5.5 to 6 level. A band score of 6.0 is appropriate as the overall arrangement is clear despite mechanical errors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic ideas about pollution, industrialisation, and deforestation. There are attempts to use less common items such as 'INDUSTRIALIZATION', 'DEFORESTATION', and 'EXTINCT', but these are offset by frequent spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'DISCUSED' instead of discussed, 'TIMEBER' instead of timber, 'POLUTANTS' instead of pollutants, and 'EHICH' instead of which. Some collocations are awkward, such as 'AT MOST CARE' instead of utmost care. While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the arguments, the noticeable spelling and lexical errors place this submission firmly within the Band 5 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some variety in structure. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'BOTH OF THESE VIEWS HAS BEEN', pronoun errors such as 'MADE THERE LIVES EASIER' instead of their lives, and run-on sentences like 'THE INVENTION OF STEAM ENGINE MADE THE TRANSPORTATION IT ALSO REDUCED'. Punctuation is also problematic, including misused colons and missing commas. Although communication is rarely completely impeded, the high density of structural errors and lack of consistent accuracy prevent the response from achieving a higher band, making Band 5.0 an accurate assessment.

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