Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

In my opinion, there are more important environmental problems in the world other than loss of particular species. From the inception of life on this planet every species has followed a simple principle i.e. survival of the fittest. The ones that adapt to the circumstances are the ones that get to live.

In contrast to this phenomena there are other problems in the world such as global warming and climate change. They impose way greater threat than loss of a species would do in my opinion. The temperature of our planet is increasing at an alarming rate. It has been a problem since the industrial age started in the late 1800s. The climate pattern of the world is hugely affected by global warming. The rainforests may have uneven rain patterns which negatively impacts the flora and fauna of the region. Glaciers in high mountain ranges and chilly places like antarctica are melting due to it and sea level has been rising at a rate such that some small island countries like tuvalu are projected to be completely summersed in ocean in the next 50 years. Similarly, rapid urbanization has also been a problem to the environment. Forests are being torn down to make way for the humans to live and in this process natural habitat of wild animals is lost.

There are other environmental problems in the world as well but these are the ones that impact the world and humans the most. In the recent years, there have been many incidents of landslides, tsunamis, earthquakes and other calamities. All of this is the result of global warming, climate change and rapid urbanization.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you consider climate change and urbanisation more serious than the loss of individual species, and you give relevant examples such as melting glaciers, rising sea levels and habitat destruction. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the case for why species loss is a major environmental problem receives very little attention. The opening claim that species follow “survival of the fittest” does not explain why biodiversity loss may be dangerous or why human activity can accelerate it. Your own view is supported more fully, but the claim that landslides, tsunamis and earthquakes result from climate change and urbanisation is too broad and inaccurate. Develop both sides and support claims with more precise reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an opening position, a paragraph describing other environmental problems, and a concluding statement. Ideas within the main paragraph generally follow a sensible sequence, moving from global warming to its effects and then to urbanisation. However, the discussion does not progress evenly because the opposing view is not developed in a separate, clear section. Linking phrases such as “In contrast” and “Similarly” help signal relationships, but some connections are unclear: “In contrast to this phenomena” does not clearly establish what is being contrasted, and the final list of natural disasters is not logically connected to the preceding claims. Organise the essay around the two views before presenting your conclusion, and make each transition express a precise relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of environmental vocabulary, including “global warming,” “climate pattern,” “rainforests,” “glaciers,” “sea level” and “natural habitat.” These terms make the topic clear, and phrases such as “alarming rate” show an attempt to use more descriptive language. However, several choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward, including “way greater threat,” “uneven rain patterns,” and “completely summersed in ocean.” There are also spelling and capitalization errors, such as “antarctica” and “summersed,” which reduce precision. Some wording is repetitive, particularly the repeated references to global warming and climate change. Aim for more accurate collocations and check spelling; use precise terms rather than broad or informal expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the relative clause in “The ones that adapt to the circumstances are the ones that get to live” and the sentence explaining how forests are cleared for human settlement. The main ideas are usually understandable, but errors in sentence construction and punctuation are noticeable. For example, “In contrast to this phenomena” has a mismatch between the demonstrative and noun, while “The rainforests may have uneven rain patterns which negatively impacts” has an agreement problem between the plural subject and verb. The long sentence about glaciers and sea levels also needs clearer punctuation and clause control. Review agreement, articles and sentence boundaries, and break up long sentences where several effects are being listed.

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