Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-06

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)

Envionemntal problem is an imperative challenge of contemporary era. Most of teh discourse across the world is being directed to highlight the banes emerging out of climate crisis. I agree at some point that loss of specific species of plants and animals as a paramount problem associated to it but entirely many other factors make it worriesom for the world.

I strongly see the conservation of species as a significant way to prevent climate destruction as each habitat on the planet earth holds respective significance and role to protect the nature. However, seeing it as sole or central issue would be unjust towards the broader aspects of environmental crisis. For instance, the erosion of climate via various of reasons including air pollution, noise pollution, use of plastic, vehicles and unplanned housing societies are more concerning issues to look at. These are polluting the very air which helps all living beings in their foundational needs like breathing. Hence, looking at the daily consumption of goods and materails causing destruction to our climate should be listed as real elephant in the room of environmental concerns. Furthermore, this contributes to the highlighted issue of species loss who struggle with changing habiat's environemnt and sustaining their natural lifestyles. Most of the cities in global QI ranking reported loss of lives than the ones where specie loss was observed. Similarly, the preservation of any life requires safe and healthy surroundings which in today's era has become a daunting task to attain for any species on this planet. Hence, for me air pollution should be painted as the soulful threat to existence of living being and environmental crisis than loss of specific species of either plants of animals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both perspectives by recognising species conservation as important while arguing that wider environmental pressures, especially air pollution, are more serious. Your position is clearest in the final sentence, where you identify air pollution as the main threat. However, the discussion of species loss is brief, and the opposing view is not developed with a specific explanation or example of why biodiversity loss matters in its own right. The examples of pollution sources are relevant, but the claim about “global QI ranking” and loss of lives is unclear and does not convincingly support the comparison. Develop each side with a clear reason and a reliable, relevant example, then explain how these support your conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable overall direction: it introduces the issue, considers species conservation, broadens the discussion to other environmental pressures, and ends with a clear preference. Linking expressions such as “However,” “For instance,” and “Furthermore” help signal relationships between ideas. At times, though, the progression becomes difficult to follow because several points are packed into one paragraph and the links between them are not fully explained. For example, the move from pollution sources to the “global QI ranking” claim is abrupt, and “this” in “Furthermore, this contributes” has an unclear reference. Use separate paragraphs for the two views and your opinion, and make each transition show precisely how one idea relates to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “conservation,” “habitat,” “air pollution,” and “preservation,” and some choices show ambition. However, inaccurate word choice, collocation, and spelling are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning difficult to interpret. Phrases such as “erosion of climate,” “real elephant in the room,” and “soulful threat” do not express the intended environmental ideas naturally; “global QI ranking” is also unclear. There are also spelling errors, including “Envionemntal,” “materails,” and “habiat's.” Aim for precise, familiar academic collocations rather than unusual expressions, and proofread spelling. For instance, describe climate change as being “accelerated” or “worsened,” rather than “eroded.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “as,” “which,” and “who,” so there is some variety. However, complex sentences are often difficult to control, and errors in sentence construction, articles, agreement, and punctuation sometimes obscure the intended meaning. For example, “I agree at some point that loss of specific species … as a paramount problem” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “the preservation of any life requires safe and healthy surroundings which … has become” has an unclear agreement and clause relationship. The opening also contains a sentence fragment-like construction after “contemporary era.” Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and clause boundaries when combining ideas.

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