Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is widely believed that the major issue with environmental degradation is the loss of specific species of plants and animals, other argues that there are other issues leading to this trend. In my perspective, the loss of species of these living organisms is the major problem contributing to this trend.

On the one hand, the loss of species disrupts the natural habitats and food chains, which can also affect living condtions. When these living conditions are destroyed this can also have negative affects on the environment. Therefore, due to loss of natural habitats and living conditions of specific species the environment might also face crisis. Furthermore, particular species of plants and animals are also really beneficial for the welfare humankind. Specific plants and herbs can be used in medicines and if they become endangered then the medical field might face crisis in the production of medicine. In addition, animals provide many useful food sources to humans. The decline in animal species can lead to the reduction in availability of certain kinds of food. As a result, this can cause malnutrition in individuals. For instance, meat of cows and goats is consumed in many parts of the world, if the species of these animals face decline then there would be adverse effects on human health and food security.

On the other hand, there are many other environmental threats prevalent in our ecosystem. The primary issue is traffic pollution. With the increase in the population the number of vehicles are also increasing because of which there is a lot of vehicle emission. As a result, the pollution caused by vehicle emission deteriorates air quality which causes environmental degradation. Moreover, littering and improper waste desposal is also a major threat for our environment. People throw plastic bags and used bottles on the roads instead of recycling them. Thus, garbage gets piled up on the road which deteriorates our environment and ecosystem. To illustrate, the air quality of Mumbai is deteriorating due to increase in traffic pollution.

In conclusion, although there are other major factors deteriorating the environment such as traffic pollution and irresponsible waste disposal. I beleive that the loss of particular species of plants and animals is the major contributing factor to environmental problem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state your position clearly: you consider species loss the main environmental problem, while also discussing traffic pollution and waste disposal. The points about food chains, medicinal plants, and food security are relevant, and the Mumbai example supports the alternative view. However, some reasoning is less fully developed. For example, the claim that declining cow and goat populations would cause malnutrition needs qualification or a clearer explanation of how species loss affects food supply. The discussion of pollution and waste is also mostly descriptive, with limited comparison of their scale or consequences against biodiversity loss. To strengthen the response, explain why your chosen problem is more serious than the alternatives and support each main claim with precise reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the discussion. Within paragraphs, ideas generally progress from a claim to an explanation or example. However, some links are mechanical or repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “Therefore,” “As a result,” and “Moreover.” The reference in “this trend” in the introduction is also unclear because it could refer to environmental degradation or species loss. The conclusion repeats the position but does not bring the comparison together. Use more precise referencing and connect ideas by showing their relationship, rather than relying mainly on formulaic transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of environmental vocabulary, including “natural habitats,” “food chains,” “endangered,” “vehicle emission,” and “waste disposal.” These terms allow you to discuss both biodiversity and pollution, and the meaning is generally clear. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “living condtions,” “negative affects,” “face crisis,” and “welfare humankind.” There are also spelling errors, including “desposal” and “beleive,” which reduce accuracy. Repetition of broad terms such as “environment,” “major,” and “specific” limits precision. Aim to use established collocations and more exact language—for example, distinguish between biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and air pollution—and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “which,” “because,” and “if,” and most of the argument remains understandable. Some grammatical errors occur, however, particularly with agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. For example, “other argues” should have a plural subject and verb, while “the number of vehicles are also increasing” has a singular subject. The sentence beginning “For instance, meat of cows and goats is consumed…” joins two independent clauses with only a comma. In the conclusion, “although there are other major factors…” is left as a fragment before the next sentence. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and ensure each sentence is complete; use a full stop or a suitable conjunction where clauses are joined.

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