Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment.

What damage does plastic do to the environment?

What can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The consumption of plastic packaging has significantly grown over the last ten years. As a result, the environment is becoming polluted due to the huge demand of plastic products such as bottles and containers. This essay will explain how excessive usage of these products affecting the planet and a few initiatives to resolve this issue in the following paragraphs.

To begin with, there are a few negative effects on the planet. For instance, people purchase plastic water bottles and later throw the bottles into the garbage bins. The municipal trucks collect the waste and instead of recycling they burn it which emits toxic chemicals in the environment. When individuals breathe those harmful chemicals it leads them to experience lung problems. Secondly, a news article revealed that when plastic waste reached to the oceans, it badly impact the marine life because the tiny particles of plastic has been found in dolphins and sharks.

Furthermore, there are a few initiatives can be done by the people and government to preserve the planet. The government should increase the recycling plants in each city so workers can recycle the waste in an easier way. The contribution of people plays a vital role to resolve this problem and small habits can bring a massive change on the planet. Individuals should reuse the old bottles and try to avoid purchasing new bottles every time.

In conclusion, although the usage of plastic packaging has grown over the years. However, the government and public should work together to overcome this problem. Individuals should try to avoid buying new containers and bottles every time and this habits can help to make a clean environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the task and gives relevant examples of environmental damage, including toxic emissions from burning waste and plastic particles affecting marine animals. It also proposes actions for both governments and individuals: expanding recycling facilities and reusing bottles. These points make the response purposeful, but the two effects are not explored equally: the health impact of burning is mentioned briefly, while the ocean example would benefit from explaining how plastic harms or kills wildlife. The solutions are also somewhat general, with little detail about how governments could reduce plastic use beyond recycling. To strengthen the response, explain the consequences of each example and develop the proposed measures with a specific mechanism or illustration.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental damage, a paragraph on solutions, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Secondly,” and “Furthermore” help readers follow the main points. However, some linking is mechanical, and the conclusion begins “although” but then adds “However,” creating an awkward relationship between the clauses. The opening also promises “a few initiatives” without clearly previewing the two groups responsible. Within paragraphs, ideas could be connected more explicitly—for example, show how plastic waste reaches the ocean and then affects marine life. Use a wider range of natural transitions and clearer references to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for discussing the topic, with relevant terms such as “toxic chemicals,” “marine life,” “recycling plants,” and “preserve the planet.” The writer also attempts more specific expressions, including “tiny particles of plastic,” though some choices are imprecise or awkward: “the huge demand of plastic products” and “badly impact” do not sound natural in these contexts. Repetition of “plastic,” “bottles,” and “problem” also limits flexibility, particularly in the solutions paragraph and conclusion. Aim to use more precise collocations and vary references to the material and its effects. For example, “plastic waste,” “single-use containers,” and “contaminate” can help express the ideas more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “so workers can recycle the waste” and a conditional structure in “When individuals breathe those harmful chemicals…”. Meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. In the introduction, “how excessive usage … affecting” needs a finite verb (“affects”); “there are a few initiatives can be done” needs a relative structure (“initiatives that can be taken”); and “this habits” should be “these habits.” There are also agreement and clause-structure problems in “the tiny particles … has been found” and the conclusion’s “although … However” construction. Review subject–verb agreement and practise combining clauses accurately to improve control.

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