The main environmental problem is the loss of animals and plants; others say other environmental issues are important.

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Read the sample essay on the topic: 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.


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 opinion.


Band Score: 5.5 Bands

Some people argue that one of the most critical environmental problems is the extinction of plant and animal species, while others believe that there are more significant issues affecting our planet.

On the one hand, many people consider the loss of biodiversity an essential global concern. The disappearance of species can lead to dramatic consequences for ecosystems and human life, such as disruptions in food supply and agriculture. Furthermore, the loss of natural vegetation makes traditional farming and local gardening increasingly difficult compared to the past.

On the other hand, many strongly believe that species extinction is not the main environmental threat. Instead, they point to melting glaciers caused by global warming. The resulting rise in sea levels poses an immediate danger, causing various coastal towns to disappear. In addition, industrial emissions cause severe air pollution, pushing our environment towards a point of no return.

In my opinion, air pollution must be considered the primary environmental challenge. This issue directly affects every part of the world, from arid deserts to open seas, leading to severe health problems and widespread damage.

In conclusion, although the loss of biodiversity and the rising sea levels caused by melting ice represent serious threats, air pollution remains the most critical issue. Because toxic air affects all regions and causes major diseases worldwide, it stands out as the main environmental problem facing our planet today.

Written by an IELTS Candidate

Band Score Analysis:

  • Personal opinion is missing in the introduction.
  • The student has given two different issues caused by loss of biodiversity (disruption in food supply and difficulty in farming) and two environmental problems (melting glaciers and air pollution), but in both cases there is not enough explanation for the second negative effect/issue. It would have been better if the student mentions only one negative effect and elaborate it further by adding an example.
  • Topic sentences are well written.
  • The student has written only 229 words, which is less than the requirement.
  • An informal word [pushing] is used.
  • The student has used some complex sentences [use of although] effectively.
  • It would have been a band 6.5 essay if there was a detailed explanation for both views.


Band Score: 6.0 Bands

Few individuals argue that extinction of major plants and animals is the main environmental problem. Meanwhile, few people argue that there are many other environmental issues as well. From my perspective, I believe that environmental problems are crucial because different types of pollution are emerging in this decade.

Several people think that extinction of plants and animals is the main reason of several different environmental problems. It is particularly because of the rise in human population. As population of humans is increasing, different communities migrate to different parts all over the world and for this reason, they like to prey different animals and eat different plants for their survival. In particular, people in China prey every type of plants and animals for their survival. Therefore, a large number of animals and plants are losing.

Furthermore, different people argue that there are several other issues related to environment. It is because of increase in industrialization since the 19th century. Substantial increase in industries causes emission of different types of gases that is a confounding factor in environmental pollution. In particular, in Pakistan, there is no better mechanism for wasting harmful gases properly. Therefore, a rise in air pollution cause thinning of ozone layer as well.

In my opinion, other environmental problems are a raising concern for all over the world. It is because people seem careless about their responsibilities as human beings and do not pay much attention to the use of harmful substances in their homes and industries which plays an important role in water pollution. Due to this reason, many living things in the lakes, rivers, and even in seas are suffering. Moreover, there are several other environmental problems such as a substantial increase in transportation vehicles that produce carbon in air and deforestation is also a leading cause of many environmental problems. Therefore, disease rates have also increased in the area where these types of problems are present.

To conclude, different people argue that major environmental issues are extinction of plants and animals, whereas few individuals argue that other environmental problems are also important. In my opinion, I believe that environmental issues are very important due to the rising in different types of pollution in this era.

Written by an IELTS Candidate

Band Score Analysis:

  • The introduction is well written with a clear opinion, but the words ‘from my perspective’ and ‘I believe’ both have the same meaning, so the student should have used only one of them.
  • Task response issue: In body paragraphs 1 and 2, the student should have written the end result/the final bad impact of ‘losing plants and animals’ and ‘thinning of the ozone layer’.
  • There are different grammatical mistakes, including preposition, subject-verb agreement issues and word formation.
  • Such a long paragraph (body paragraph 3) for personal opinion is not needed.


Band Score: 6.5 Bands

Today, environmental problems are a big concern for people all over the world. Some people think that the loss of certain plants and animals is the most important environmental problem. Other people think that there are other problems that are more important. I think that the loss of biodiversity is not that significant compared to other issues that our ecosystem is facing.

Some people argue that losing plant and animal species is the biggest problem. This is because every plant and animal has an important role in nature. If one type of animal or plant disappears forever, this can affect other animals and plants too. For example, if bees disappear, this could be a big problem for farming, because many plants need bees to grow food.

However, many people think that other environmental problems are more serious. For example, climate change is a very big problem because it affects the whole world at the same time. It can cause extreme weather, floods, and higher sea levels. Also, air and water pollution can make people sick very quickly. These problems can hurt humans directly, so some people think they are more urgent than losing plant and animal species.

In my opinion, climate change is a bigger problem than the loss of species. This is because climate change can also cause plants and animals to disappear by destroying the places where they live. So, if we solve the problem of climate change, this can also help protect plants and animals.

In conclusion, although losing plant and animal species is a serious problem, I believe that climate change is a more important environmental problem today, because it affects the whole planet and also causes other problems, including the loss of species.

Written by an IELTS Candidate

Band Score Analysis:

  • The introduction is well written with a clear opinion.
  • The student has used the topic sentences in a good way.
  • The explanation given in each body paragraph sufficiently answering/explaining the main arugement/view given in the question statement.
  • There is a good use of compound and conditional sentences.
  • To make it a band 7 essay, the student should have included some advanced words.


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IELTS Expert

Evaluated By: Hamza Ahmad

I’m an English language trainer with 3+ years of experience in IELTS, helping students achieve scores as high as an 8.0 overall band. A published contributor to Modern English Teacher (MET), I founded IELTS Prep and Practice to help students hit their target scores through proven strategies and personalized coaching.

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