Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-30

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)

There is a considerable debate on the environmental issues. Some believe that loss of plants and animals habitat is the major environmental factor. On the other hand, other believes there are also some other major problems that take part in environmental damages. In my opinion, loss of plants and animal habitat is the major factor that affects the ecosystem.

Loss of plants and animals is considerably a major factor that outweighs the other environmental issues. Loss of plants lead to increase of the global temperature according to one study it declares that, with the decrease of plants on Earth. The temperature of Earth rises by 1 degree Celsius every year. This leads to a greater threat of flooding, tsunamis, and earthquakes. There are a lot of studies that prove that livestock are a source of carbon emissions.

On the other hand, others have this opinion that some other environmental factors outweigh the first, Such as pollution caused by industries. As industrial waste have a lot of heavy chemicals. These directly launches to the air and cause and heavy Air pollution. As witnessed last year in India, In the months of winters all the sugar making factories and mills discharge there waste in environment. That cause heavy smog and led to health issues such as eyes allergy and sour throat.

In my opinion, Both are non neglectable, but the first outweighs the other environmental issue. As loss of plants and animals led to serious and more devastating environmental issues. Such as heavy floods seen in Pakistan and other Asian countries these days.

In conclusion, all the environmental problems led to horrible and terrifying consequences, a more precise management of plants development and protection of animals needs to secure this problem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state a consistent opinion: you argue that species and habitat loss is the more serious issue, while recognising industrial pollution as another major problem. The examples of factory emissions in India and flooding in Pakistan help make the discussion relevant. However, some support is unclear or insufficiently explained. For instance, the claim that plant loss raises global temperatures by one degree each year is attributed vaguely to “one study,” and the links from habitat loss to tsunamis and earthquakes are not established. The pollution paragraph gives a more concrete example, but its consequences could be connected more explicitly to the comparison. Develop and qualify evidence, and explain more precisely why biodiversity loss outweighs other problems.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, a statement of your position, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “On the other hand” make the contrast easy to follow, and the central opinion is repeated consistently. Some connections between ideas are less clear, however. In the second paragraph, the move from plant loss to temperature rise, then to tsunamis and earthquakes, feels abrupt because the causal links are not explained. The final opinion paragraph also repeats earlier claims rather than advancing the comparison. Some linking phrases and sentence openings are mechanical, including repeated uses of “As” and “Such as.” Use clearer references and build each paragraph around a more deliberate sequence of claim, explanation, and example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “ecosystem,” “carbon emissions,” “industrial waste,” “heavy chemicals,” and “smog,” which allows you to discuss both sides of the issue. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “considerable debate” and “devastating environmental issues.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, sometimes making the intended meaning less precise: “environmental damages,” “launches to the air,” and “non neglectable” are examples. “Loss of plants and animals habitat” also needs a more natural expression. Spelling and word-form errors such as “there” for “their” and “sour throat” further affect control. Build accuracy by learning common environmental collocations and checking word forms and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “that” and “As,” and your main meaning is generally understandable. However, control is uneven, with errors in agreement, articles, sentence boundaries, and punctuation. For example, “other believes” should have a plural verb, while “Loss of plants lead” needs singular agreement. The sentence beginning “Loss of plants lead to increase…” runs several ideas together and is difficult to follow; the sentence fragment “As industrial waste have…” also needs to be joined to a complete clause. Capitalisation is inconsistent, as in “Such” and “Air.” Aim for accurate basic sentence patterns first, then use complex clauses with clear punctuation and check subject–verb agreement.

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