Are Zoos Still Relevant for Conservation?
A complete IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 question with a model answer of 291 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.
Some people argue that modern zoos play an important role in conserving endangered species, while others believe they are outdated and that animals should live only in the wild or in sanctuaries. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- 01Discuss both views in separate body paragraphs before giving your own opinion
- 02Use specific examples — the Arabian oryx, California condor, panda breeding programmes
- 03Acknowledge welfare concerns honestly even if you support zoos overall
- 04Use evaluative vocabulary: 'ethically indefensible', 'phased out', 'reformed or closed'
- 05Take a nuanced position rather than fully supporting or rejecting zoos
- 06Reinforce your opinion clearly in both introduction and conclusion
Model answer
291 words in 5 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
Few institutions divide public opinion as sharply as the modern zoo. Supporters point to their role in breeding endangered species and educating the public, while critics insist that keeping wild animals behind glass is ethically indefensible in the twenty-first century. In my view, the best-managed zoos remain a valuable part of conservation, but smaller and less specialised collections should be phased out.
On the one hand, those who defend zoos highlight their conservation achievements. Programmes such as the captive breeding of the Arabian oryx, the California condor, and the giant panda have prevented species from disappearing altogether. Modern accredited zoos also fund field research, train rangers, and support habitat protection in the animals' countries of origin. Just as importantly, they expose millions of urban visitors — many of whom will never travel to a rainforest or savanna — to wildlife, sparking the curiosity and donations that conservation depends on.
On the other hand, critics argue that zoos can no longer justify themselves on conservation grounds alone. Many species held in zoos are not endangered, and the welfare of large, intelligent animals such as elephants and orcas in confined enclosures has been repeatedly questioned. Wildlife documentaries and virtual reality, they argue, can now provide education without removing animals from their habitats, and sanctuaries focused on rescued animals offer a more ethical model.
In my opinion, the answer lies in setting much higher standards rather than abolishing zoos altogether. Institutions that meet strict welfare criteria, run genuine breeding programmes, and reinvest in fieldwork serve a legitimate purpose. Those that merely display exotic animals for entertainment should be reformed or closed.
In conclusion, modern zoos remain relevant where they actively contribute to conservation, but the era of the cage-based menagerie is rightly coming to an end.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 69 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
the same as the median answer for this task type
11 words at the shortest, 31 at the longest
1 fewer than the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 20.8 words and vary by 6.4 words either side of that, running from 11 words to 31. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 6 of the 14 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
5 in total, spread across 3 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
on the other hand, while
such as
in conclusion
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 82 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 71 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 2 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Response
Address both views fully, present a clear and reasoned opinion, and use relevant examples to support each side.
Coherence & Cohesion
Use a clear introduction, two balanced body paragraphs, opinion, and conclusion with effective linking.
Lexical Resource
Use a range of vocabulary on conservation, ethics, and welfare, including less common items and collocations.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Demonstrate accurate use of complex structures including concession, conditionals, and relative clauses.
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