Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-27

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)

Some people argue that extinction of particular species of plants and animals is the most serious problem, while others think that there are more environmental problems. Although, the loss of biodiversity has negative effects on human lives, from my perspective climate issues like water and air pollution are the serious issues because they are affecting both animals and humans.

On the one hand, plants and animals have a major role in human life and also in nature. Especially, a community of animals and plants build a cycle that is food chain. For instance, animals eat plants as a result release carbon dioxide into the environment and plants take carbon dioxide from sun for photosynthesis. Furthermore, many plants and animals give food and medicines to humans. For example, forests are declining day by day due to poor food chain system. So, for maintaining forests its essentail to take attention on endangered species.

On the second hand, environmental problems need greater attention especially climate change and pollution. As, global warming has a great threat due to this glaciers are melting very steadily, temperature increasing and weather is also disturbing. However, shortage of rain cause problems for farmers and also for human life. For instance, excessive usage of fossil fuels cause flood and drought in many parts for the world. Similarly, air pollution causes respiratory disease in humans. For these reasons, I believe that government should take step for environmental problems.

In conclusion, although the extinction of plants and animals is the serious threat for biodiversity. I believe, that climate change and pollution are the major issues of the environmental problems due to their widespread threat to humans and the world.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference: pollution and climate-related problems are more serious because they affect people as well as animals. The biodiversity paragraph gives relevant points about food chains and the human value of plants and animals, while the other side mentions warming, changing weather, water shortages and respiratory illness. However, several explanations are unclear or insufficiently supported. For example, the link between fossil-fuel use and floods or droughts needs explaining, and the example about forests declining because of a “poor food chain system” does not clearly demonstrate the point. Develop each main claim with a more accurate cause-and-effect explanation or a specific example, and make the comparison between the two views more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion that restates your position. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because ideas are joined mechanically or the relationship between them is unclear. For instance, “For instance” introduces a sentence about animals releasing carbon dioxide, but the explanation does not clearly support the preceding claim about food chains. “On the second hand” and “As” are also awkward or inaccurate transitions, and “However” does not express a clear contrast in its sentence. Use simpler, more precise linking phrases and ensure each example directly develops the point before it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “biodiversity,” “photosynthesis,” “global warming,” “fossil fuels” and “respiratory disease,” which allows you to address the environmental topic. There is also some attempt to use less common expressions, such as “endangered species.” However, the range is limited in places, and noticeable word-choice and collocation errors sometimes make ideas unclear. Examples include “climate issues like water and air pollution,” “a great threat,” “weather is also disturbing” and “take attention on endangered species.” The spelling “essentail” is also inaccurate. Build a more precise set of environmental collocations and check spelling; this will help you express cause, impact and solutions more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in the introduction and clauses beginning with “although” and “because.” These attempts show some range, but complex sentences are often faulty, and errors recur in agreement, articles, verb forms and punctuation. For example, “a community of animals and plants build” has a singular subject with a plural verb, while “shortage of rain cause” also needs agreement and an article. The opening “Although, the loss…” is punctuated incorrectly, and the final sentence begins with “although” but is not completed as a dependent clause. Review subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries, and make sure subordinate clauses are attached to complete main clauses.

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