EnvironmentDiscussion (Both Views + Opinion)
IELTS Essay: Can Individuals Protect the Environment? (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
Some people believe that individuals can do little to protect the environment, and that only governments and large companies can make a real difference. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
How to approach a Discussion (Both Views + Opinion) question
A discussion question asks you to do two distinct things: present both views fairly, and give your own opinion. Devote one body paragraph to each view, then make sure your position is clear — either woven through or stated plainly in the conclusion. The classic mistake is discussing both sides but forgetting to give an opinion at all, which directly costs Task Response marks.
The plan
- 01Introduction — paraphrase the debate and signal your view (individual action still matters)
- 02Body 1 — the view that only governments and corporations have real impact (scale)
- 03Body 2 — the view that individuals matter, plus your opinion (they also apply the pressure)
- 04Conclusion — institutions hold the bigger levers, but individual action drives them
Band 9 model answer
There is a growing debate about whether responsibility for protecting the environment lies chiefly with individuals or with governments and corporations. While I recognise that large institutions wield far greater power, I will argue that individual action remains both meaningful and necessary.
On one hand, it is undeniable that governments and large companies operate on a scale that dwarfs individual effort. A single factory can emit more carbon in a day than a household does in years, and only legislation can impose binding limits, fund renewable infrastructure, and penalise polluters. From this perspective, expecting individuals to solve a systemic problem through recycling or shorter showers can seem almost naive.
On the other hand, dismissing individual action overlooks two things. First, collective behaviour is simply the sum of individual choices: when millions reduce consumption or switch to sustainable products, markets and policies shift in response. Second, and more importantly, individuals are also voters and consumers who apply the very pressure that forces institutions to act. Seen this way, the two are not opposites at all — engaged citizens are precisely what compels governments and companies to change.
In conclusion, although governments and corporations hold the greater levers of change, I believe individual action is far from powerless. It contributes directly and, crucially, generates the political and commercial will on which large-scale solutions ultimately depend.
The same question at Band 6.5
These days, protecting the environment is a big problem in the world. Some people think that only governments and big companies can help the environment, but other people think that individuals can also help. In this essay I will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On one hand, governments and big companies are very powerful. They can make new laws and they can build clean energy like solar power. Big companies also make a lot of pollution, so if they change, it will help the environment a lot. One person cannot do these big things, so this is why some people think individuals cannot help.
On the other hand, I think individuals can also help the environment. For example, people can recycle, save water and use public transport instead of car. If everybody does these things, it will make a big difference. Also, people can vote for good governments who care about the environment. So individuals are also important.
In conclusion, both governments and individuals are important for protecting the environment. But in my opinion, individuals can also make a difference if everybody works together, so we should all try our best.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Discusses both views fully and fairly, then argues a clear, integrated opinion — that the two are connected rather than opposed. | Covers both views and gives an opinion, but each view is stated simply with one or two general examples and little development. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Sophisticated signposting ('On one hand', 'more importantly', 'Seen this way') and ideas that clearly build on each other. | Clear paragraph structure with basic linkers ('On one hand', 'Also', 'For example'); ideas are listed rather than connected. |
| Lexical Resource | Strong collocation and range ('wield power', 'binding limits', 'collective behaviour', 'the greater levers of change'). | Limited and repetitive ('big', 'a lot', 'help'); everyday rather than academic vocabulary. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Confident complex sentences and subordination, highly accurate throughout. | Mainly simple sentences; errors such as 'instead of car' (missing article) that do not prevent understanding. |
Examiner's note
Both answers correctly discuss both views and give an opinion, so both satisfy the task on the surface. The gap is in depth and language: the Band 9 connects the two views into a single argument and uses precise collocation, while the Band 6.5 states ideas plainly, repeats high-frequency words, and relies on simple sentences. Closing that gap is a matter of developing ideas further and upgrading vocabulary and structures — not of writing more.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to wield power | to have and use great power or influence |
| binding limits | legally enforceable restrictions |
| collective action | action taken together by many people |
| a systemic problem | a problem built into the whole system |
| to penalise polluters | to punish those who cause pollution |
| renewable infrastructure | facilities for clean, renewable energy |
| sustainable | able to continue without harming the environment |
| engaged citizens | people who take an active interest in public issues |
Frequently asked questions
How is a discussion essay different from an opinion essay in IELTS?
A discussion essay ('discuss both views and give your own opinion') asks you to do two things: present both sides fairly and state your own position. An opinion essay ('to what extent do you agree?') asks only for your position. Answering a discussion prompt as if it were an opinion essay — covering only one side — is a common Task Response error.
Do I have to give my own opinion in a discussion essay?
Yes, if the prompt says 'give your own opinion' — and most do. Presenting both views without stating your own is one of the most frequent reasons strong writers lose Task Response marks. Make your opinion unmistakable, whether you weave it through or state it clearly in the conclusion.
Which side should I agree with in a discussion essay?
Whichever you can argue most convincingly — there is no 'correct' side, and the examiner does not grade your opinion, only how well you support it. Choose the position you have the clearest reasons and examples for, and commit to it.