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Culture: IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people think that zoos play an important educational role and help protect endangered species, while others believe that keeping animals in captivity is cruel and outdated. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Question type: Discuss both views · Write at least 250 words · About 40 minutes

How to approach it

This is a discuss-both-views question, so you must explain the reasoning behind each side before giving your own opinion. A common trap is spending too much time on the side you agree with and only briefly mentioning the other. Both body paragraphs need equal depth. Note that the question covers two claims for zoos — education and conservation — so address both rather than treating them as one.

Suggested outline

Intro: paraphrase the two views and state your own position — for example, that zoos can be justified when they prioritise conservation and education, but only if animal welfare standards are genuinely high.
Body 1: discuss the view that zoos are valuable — they fund breeding programmes for endangered species, educate the public about biodiversity, and provide research opportunities that benefit wild populations.
Body 2: discuss the opposing view — many animals suffer psychologically in confined spaces, some zoos prioritise entertainment over welfare, and modern alternatives such as documentaries and virtual reality can fulfil the educational role without captivity.
Conclusion: restate your opinion that well-regulated, conservation-focused zoos remain important, but poorly run facilities that exist mainly for profit cannot be defended.

View one

Captive breeding programmes have saved species such as the Arabian oryx from extinction
Zoos allow children and adults to connect with wildlife they would never otherwise see, fostering empathy
Research conducted in zoos contributes to veterinary science and habitat restoration

View two

Many animals develop abnormal behaviours such as pacing and self-harm in captivity
Some zoos exploit animals for entertainment rather than genuinely supporting conservation
High-quality wildlife documentaries and eco-tourism can educate people without confining animals

Band 7+ vocabulary

captive breeding programme – a planned effort to breed endangered animals in controlled environments to increase their numbers
natural habitat – the place in the wild where an animal normally lives and finds food
animal welfare – the physical and mental well-being of animals kept by humans
biodiversity – the variety of plant and animal species in a particular area or on Earth
psychological distress – mental suffering, such as anxiety or depression, caused by poor conditions
conservation efforts – organised actions taken to protect wildlife and natural environments

Common mistakes on this question

Discussing only one side in depth and dismissing the other in a single sentence, which lowers the score for task response.
Forgetting to give a personal opinion — the question says 'give your own opinion', so sitting entirely on the fence is not enough.
Making sweeping claims such as 'all zoos are cruel' without acknowledging that standards vary widely between institutions.

Band ladder

The same essay at four band levels

One plan, written at band 5.5, 7.0, 8.0, 8.5. Compare them to see exactly which sentences change as the score rises.

Band 5.5237 words · marked by the StudyChat examinerTR5.0CC6.0LR5.5GRA5.5

Nowadays, there is a debate about whether zoos are good or bad for animals and people. Some people think zoos are important for education and protecting animals, but others think it is cruel to keep animals in cages. In my opinion, zoos can be good if they take care of animals properly.

Firstly, zoos play an important role in protecting endangered species. Many zoos have breeding programmes that help animals which are almost extinct.¹ In addition, zoos educate peoples about different animals² and biodiversity. When children visit the zoo, they can learn about animals they never see in real life. Also, scientists can do research in zoos that help wild animals in the nature³.

On the other hand, some people believe that keeping animals in captivity is cruel and outdated. Many animals have psychological problems because they live in small spaces. For example, some animals walk back and forward all day because they are stressed. Furthermore, some zoos care more about making money and entertainment than animal welfare. Nowadays, there are documentaries and virtual reality that can teach people about animals without keeping them in cages.

In conclusion, I think that zoos which focus on conservation and education are still important in today society. However, zoos that only exist for making profit and do not care about animals should not be allowed. Governments should make strict rules to ensure all zoos have high standards for animal welfare.

Examiner notes

1
Task Response
The idea is relevant but remains general. No specific type of species or programme is mentioned, so the support feels thin and underdeveloped.
2
Lexical Resource
Word-form error: 'peoples' should be 'people'. This kind of basic plural mistake is typical at this band and limits the lexical resource score.
3
Grammar
Subject-verb agreement error ('research … that help') and unnecessary article ('in the nature'). Frequent minor errors like these keep the grammar band around 5–6.

High-band model answer

Show the model answer (try writing your own first)

People hold sharply different views on whether zoos serve a legitimate purpose or simply subject animals to unnecessary suffering. While I understand the concerns about captivity, I believe that well-managed zoos continue to play a vital role in conservation and public education.

On the one hand, zoos contribute significantly to the survival of endangered species. Captive breeding programmes have brought animals such as the Arabian oryx and the California condor back from the brink of extinction, and the research conducted in zoological facilities often feeds directly into habitat restoration projects. Moreover, zoos offer millions of visitors, particularly children, their first real encounter with wildlife. This experience can foster a genuine emotional connection with animals that no textbook alone can achieve, potentially inspiring the next generation of conservationists.

On the other hand, critics rightly point out that many captive animals display signs of severe psychological distress, including repetitive pacing and self-harm. These behaviours suggest that even spacious enclosures cannot fully replicate the complexity of a natural habitat. Furthermore, not all zoos prioritise welfare equally; some operate primarily as commercial attractions, keeping animals in cramped conditions with little investment in conservation. Opponents also argue that modern wildlife documentaries and virtual-reality technology can now fulfil the educational function of zoos without confining living creatures.

In my view, the solution is not to abolish zoos altogether but to enforce far stricter regulations on how they operate. Facilities that genuinely invest in breeding programmes, scientific research and high welfare standards deserve public support, whereas those that treat animals merely as entertainment products should be closed. By distinguishing between these two models, society can protect biodiversity without ignoring the ethical duty it owes to individual animals.

Written for StudyChat as an example of a high-band answer. Word count: 280.

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Culture: IELTS Writing Task 2 question

How to approach it

Suggested outline

View one

View two

Band 7+ vocabulary

Common mistakes on this question

The same essay at four band levels

Examiner notes

High-band model answer

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Culture: IELTS Writing Task 2 question

How to approach it

Suggested outline

View one

View two

Band 7+ vocabulary

Common mistakes on this question

The same essay at four band levels

Examiner notes

High-band model answer

Write your answer and get a band score

Your recent checks

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