Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-16

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 6.5)

Some people debate that the main environmental problems of our time are the loss of particular species of animals and plants, while others argue that there are more important environmental problems. In this regard, this essay will discuss not only both the perspectives but also my opinion that is in favour of former point of view in upcoming paragraphs with a relevant conclusion.

To commence with, the loss of biodiversity has become a major concern in the modern era due to various human and natural factors. The prime reason for this is human expansion and intervention, with growing population, the need for clearing up forests and jungles arises, this destroys plant and animal habitats. To explain it, humanity needs additional living space due to a growing population, this further leads to destruction of vegetation to build services and living quarters, causing many species to go extinct. For example, many species of plants and animals have completely disappeared from the planet, like the passenger pigeon, that had a substantial individual count a century ago, but went extinct recently due to environmental issues caused by humans. Secondly, a lot of plant and animal species are helpful for humans, as plants provide oxygen for the world, while animals provide dairy and meat products essential for survival. To elaborate it, as a single specie disappears, the entire ecosystem gets disturbed, altering the food web, and causing further extinction of species that were dependent on the other extinct species.

However, there are some other environmental issues that need to be addressed. The first and foremost is global warming, increasing temperatures across the world due to deforestation and industrialization, causing glaciers to melt at the earth's poles, leading to rising sea levels. For an epitome, pollution has become a major hazard in recent years, due to a lack of proper waste disposal and micro plastics. To write more, air quality has become poor in large metropolitan cities, this causes various diseases in animals and humans like lung cancer. Apart from this, the destruction of the ozone layer should not be ignored, this layer made up of the ozone gas, protects the earth from harmful uv radiations, but has narrowed significently due to pollution and carbon emissions. Nevertheless, my personal stance aligns with the former perspective, as the loss of biodiversity can become an even greater problem in the future. To clarify it, many species are inter-dependent on each other, leading to mass extinctions, this can decrease global oxygen levels. Furthermore, chopping down trees and elimination of plant species alters the rain cycle, leading to droughts and famines across nations.

In conclusion, although there are many environmental problems, the loss of biodiversity should be the main concern, while other environmental issues, such as ozone depletion and global warming should also not be ignored to ensure a safe and sustainable future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses both sides of the question and gives a clear, consistent preference for biodiversity protection, stated in the introduction and reaffirmed in the conclusion. The discussion of habitat loss, ecosystem disruption, global warming, pollution and ozone depletion is relevant, and examples such as the passenger pigeon help support the argument. This fits a response that covers the task and extends its ideas. Some claims, however, are broad or insufficiently explained: for instance, the link between species loss and “decrease global oxygen levels” is asserted without showing how substantial that effect would be. The second viewpoint is also presented mainly as a list of problems rather than compared in depth with biodiversity loss. Develop the reasoning behind key claims and make the comparison more explicit to strengthen the response further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph supporting the biodiversity view, a paragraph covering other environmental concerns and your position, and a conclusion. Ideas generally progress logically, and signposting such as “However,” “Furthermore” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the argument. The organisation is therefore clear throughout. At times, though, linking phrases feel mechanical or are used where a direct transition would be smoother; “To commence with,” “To explain it” and “To write more” interrupt the flow. Several sentences also join multiple claims with commas, making the relationships between ideas less clear. Use fewer formulaic transitions, divide long sentences where needed, and make references such as “this” point unmistakably to the relevant idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a reasonably broad range of topic vocabulary, including “biodiversity,” “habitats,” “ecosystem,” “food web,” “glaciers” and “ozone depletion.” These choices allow you to discuss environmental issues with some specificity, and the meaning is generally clear. There is also an attempt to use less common or formal expressions, but some are inaccurate or unnatural in context: “for an epitome” does not introduce an example, “a single specie” uses the wrong form, and “individual count” is awkward for describing a population. Spelling errors such as “significently” and “inter-dependent” also reduce precision. This range meets the task’s needs, but more reliable collocations and accurate word forms are needed for greater flexibility and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes a mix of simple and complex structures, including cause-and-effect clauses and relative clauses, as in “which had a substantial individual count…” and “as plants provide oxygen…”. Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors recur. Several sentences splice independent clauses with commas, for example, “with growing population, the need for clearing up forests and jungles arises, this destroys…” and “air quality has become poor…, this causes…”. There are also issues with articles and agreement, such as “with growing population” and “a single specie disappears.” These errors rarely prevent comprehension, but they make some sentences less controlled. Practise separating complete clauses with full stops or semicolons and check articles, singular/plural forms and subject–verb agreement.

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