Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

People have different views about environmental problems. While some people believe that the loss of habitat of particular species of animals and plants are the main concern of environmental degradation, others argue that besides these, there are more significant environmental problems. I believe that other factors have greater impact on the environment.

On the one hand, flora and fauna plays a crucial role in our environment. As the tree roots have capturing ability to the soil, it holds the area of the ground that ultimately prevents soil erosion and flow away by flood. It also beneficial in the mountainous area, where land sliding is very common. Moreover, massive destruction of the marine habitat by human activities. For example, spoilage of wastes directly into water bodies affects the marine life, that leads to death and cause water contamination.

On the other hand, various factors are also included other than the loss of species of plants and animals. For instance, the increase in traffic on the roads have a greater influence on environmental degradation. This is because a significant amount of burning fossil fuels or carbon emission from the exhaust of the vehicles pollutes the surroundings. It also includes noise pollution that simultaneously affect your health and mental peace. I believe this view is more convincing because it has massive effect on the environment.

In conclusion, although loss of particular species of plants and animals can bring environmental challenges. I believe that other factors have a greater impact on environment because of environment and health related issues are also involved.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference in the introduction and conclusion: “other factors have greater impact on the environment.” The examples about tree roots, marine waste, and vehicle emissions are relevant, and the response meets the stated length requirement. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The first view focuses mainly on habitat damage and its effects, rather than explaining why species loss itself may be the most serious problem. The alternative view is also narrow, relying largely on traffic pollution. Develop each side with fuller explanations and specific consequences, then make the comparison behind your opinion more explicit. This would make the response address all parts of the question more completely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help signal the contrast, while examples generally follow the relevant claims. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear or abrupt. For example, the shift from tree roots to landslides is not fully explained, and “Moreover, massive destruction of the marine habitat…” is a fragment rather than a complete link in the argument. The conclusion repeats the position but does not draw together the two sides. Use complete topic sentences, explain how each example supports its point, and connect the final comparison more clearly to the discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant environmental vocabulary, including “soil erosion,” “marine habitat,” “fossil fuels,” and “noise pollution,” which helps communicate the topic. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “environmental degradation.” However, the range is limited and several word combinations or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making meaning less clear: “loss of habitat of particular species,” “flow away by flood,” and “spoilage of wastes” are not natural expressions in this context. Repetition of “environment,” “impact,” and “factors” also limits flexibility. Build a bank of accurate collocations for environmental causes and effects, and check whether each chosen word fits its grammatical and contextual role.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, using structures such as “While some people believe…” and “This is because…”. Nevertheless, errors occur frequently, and some sentences are incomplete or difficult to follow. For example, “Moreover, massive destruction of the marine habitat by human activities” has no main verb, while “flora and fauna plays” and “the increase in traffic … have” show subject–verb agreement problems. Other examples include “It also beneficial” and “that simultaneously affect,” where verb forms or agreement are missing or incorrect. Practise checking every sentence for a complete subject and verb, then review agreement and articles. More accurate control of these basic patterns will make your complex ideas easier to understand.

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