Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-03

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 say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and other animals. In contrast, others say that there are more important environmental problems. In my view, there are other environmental problems along with the loss of species and plants.

Plants and species play a vital role in preserving our ecosystem. In various cities, individuals cut plants and utilize them for cooking and other activities. In the construction industry, wood is being used rapidly without considering the reproduction of wood and plants. On the other hand, individuals are found shooting of precious animals for their entertainment; officials ought to take some action against these and restrict these activities.

In contrast, the major environmental problem is air pollution, which is damaging our ozone layer rapidly. Government officials must ban the old vehicles and replace them with new vehicles that cause less damage to the environment. Authorities also encourage individuals to use public transport and avoid private vehicles. Public transport can replace many private vehicles which creates less damage to the ozone layer. Urban planners are also considering mixed-use cities and developing the concept of 15-minute cities where individuals have each facility within walking distance. This concept reduces commuting time and promotes walking. In contrast, the single-family house system is ruining the ecosystem. Most of the Americans spend 24 percent of their income on transportation. They even use their private vehicle to buy milk and travel around for 30 minutes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

First, it must be noted that the response falls short of the minimum length requirement, containing 218 words instead of the required 250 words, with 29 words copied directly from the prompt excluded from the count. Regarding the content, the essay addresses the task only partially. While it acknowledges both views regarding environmental problems and provides a personal view, the ideas are limited and somewhat under-developed. For instance, the discussion on biodiversity loss touches briefly on wood utilization and animal hunting, but lacks thorough extension and robust supporting examples. Similarly, the counterargument concerning air pollution introduces several valid points, such as public transport and 15-minute cities, but these points are presented as a series of brief, disconnected statements rather than a fully explored line of argument. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to ensure the essay meets the word count requirement and fully develop each viewpoint with well-reasoned explanations and concrete examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response demonstrates some overall organisation, but it lacks a clear overall progression throughout the essay. While paragraphs are attempted, the internal logical flow between sentences and paragraphs is frequently disjointed. For example, the transition between discussing plant and animal loss in the second paragraph and shifting to air pollution in the third paragraph is abrupt and lacks a smooth cohesive bridge. Furthermore, the writer heavily relies on repetitive transitional phrases such as 'In contrast', using this phrase twice in close succession to introduce contrasting points ('In contrast, others say...' and 'In contrast, the major environmental problem...'), which creates a mechanical and confusing reading experience. Cohesive devices are often inadequate or inaccurate, and referencing is not always clear. To improve coherence, the writer should focus on logically sequencing ideas, avoiding repetitive connectors, and ensuring that each paragraph builds naturally upon the previous one with clear, varied referencing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses a limited but minimally adequate range of vocabulary for the task. There are attempts to incorporate less common vocabulary, such as 'reproduction', 'ecosystem', 'urban planners', and 'mixed-use cities', but these are accompanied by noticeable errors in word choice and collocation that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. For example, phrases like 'shooting of precious animals' and 'reproduction of wood' demonstrate unnatural collocations and imprecise word forms. Additionally, the repetition of basic environmental terms reveals a restricted lexical scope. Spelling is generally acceptable, but vocabulary limitations restrict the precision and flexibility of the writing. To achieve a higher score, the writer must expand their lexical repertoire, practice natural word partnerships and collocations, and use less common lexical items more accurately and appropriately within context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing displays a limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside a few basic complex forms. Attempts at more complex sentence structures are often faulty, leading to frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that can cause some difficulty for the reader. Instances of inaccurate preposition usage and article omission are noticeable, such as in the sentence 'Most of the Americans spend 24 percent of their income on transportation', where the definite article is incorrectly applied to nationalities in general contexts. Verb forms and tense consistency also show lapses, and awkward phrasing occasionally obscures the intended meaning. To progress, the student needs to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures while improving accuracy in basic grammar rules, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation.

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.