Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-09

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)

Environment is our surrounding where we live and get to survive. Although, nowadays, changes in the environment are causing problems for humans, animals and plants to survive and thrive. There are many problems linked with environment. However, some people argue that loss of particular species of plants and animals is main cause. Others argue that there are more important environmental species. I personally agree with the belief that loss of particular species is the main environmental problem. Because, when one specie goes missing, it disturbs the whole ecosystem. For instance, if plankton wents missing the other fishes which rely on plankton for food will face the depletion of food. With no food around the fishes depending on plankton might die too, causing the bigger fishes relying on smaller fishes face food depletion. This continues disturbing ecosystems and causing deaths ata large scale. Though, there are many other environmental problems like climate change, melting of glaciers, and acid rain. When climate change occurs species encounter many problems like changes in breeding periods, migration and food limitation. The species that are better at adapting to changes will survive, while others willl face extinction. The adaptive species or native species cause problems for species that originally belong to a place. This shift and inequality leads to more environmental problems, thus disturbing ecosystems. In conclusion, loss of particular species might be the main environmental problem, but this can't be neglected that other environmetal problems are concerning too.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear opinion that species loss is the main environmental problem and support it with a relevant food-chain example involving plankton and fish. You also mention other concerns, including climate change, melting glaciers and acid rain, and explain how climate change can affect breeding, migration and food supplies. However, the discussion of why these other problems may be more important is brief, so the two views are not developed equally; the point about native or adaptive species is also difficult to follow. The response is 235 words, 15 words below the 250-word minimum, and the eight words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop both sides more fully and add a clearer comparison before concluding.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an introduction, a body that presents examples, and a concluding sentence, so the reader can identify your overall position. Linking expressions such as “For instance,” “Though,” and “In conclusion” help signal examples and shifts. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the paragraph moves from species loss to climate change and then to “adaptive species or native species” without explaining the connection between these ideas. The opening also repeats the general idea of environmental problems before reaching the debate. Use separate, focused paragraphs for the two views, and make each sentence build on the previous one. Clearer referencing and fewer abrupt transitions would make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “ecosystem,” “migration,” “breeding periods,” “extinction,” and “acid rain,” which allows you to discuss environmental issues beyond basic terms. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “food depletion.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward, including “environmental species” for environmental problems, “one specie,” and “wents missing.” “Food depletion” is also repeated and sounds less natural than describing a shortage of food. Spelling errors such as “willl” and “environmetal” are noticeable. Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling and word forms; this will make your meaning more precise and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a conditional example beginning “if plankton…” and a contrast introduced by “Although.” These structures show an effort to express cause and effect. However, errors recur in sentence formation and agreement, and some punctuation choices interrupt the flow. For example, “Although, nowadays…” is an incomplete opening clause, while “Because, when one specie goes missing…” is a sentence fragment. In “the bigger fishes relying on smaller fishes face food depletion,” the structure is difficult to process, and “This continues disturbing ecosystems” uses an awkward verb pattern. Practise joining dependent clauses to complete sentences, and check articles, singular/plural agreement and punctuation when editing.

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