Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-24

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)

Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are harmful to environment . They create pollution for both humans and animals

One of the major damage plastic causes is that it causes problem in drainage system where by causing flood which can cause loss of property for humans , another cause it can cause is that it can cause death in animals where by animal like turtle fish make mistake plastic for food and eat which result to death of the animal

To solve this problem government and Individual and both hands to together but government needs to provide a facility for recycling plastics and also educate the public about proper waste disposal , for example government need to put sanction for individuals who litters the plastic in the environment , this will help to reduce plastic waste in the environment because the individual will be scared of been penalized or sanctioned

Individuals in the other hands needs to keep there surrounding cleans and avoid littering of plastic in the environment and they should get a proper disposal bag where the plastic can be disposed and be recycled , with this small action by millions of Individual it will make the environment conducive for both human and animal and a reduction pollution and flooding in the environment

In conclusion plastic can cause serious damage to wildlife, humans and the environment, so with the strong government policies and responsible action by individuals this problem can be reduced to ensure health environment for both wildlife and humans too

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: it identifies environmental damage (drainage/flooding and wildlife harm) and proposes solutions for both governments and individuals. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. For instance, the explanation of how plastic causes flooding is brief, and the solutions provided are quite general. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific examples or deeper analysis. The position is clear throughout, but the overall depth of the argument is basic, which aligns with the Band 5.5/6.0 descriptor range.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive (e.g., 'another cause it can cause is that it can cause'). There are also issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the run-on sentences in the second paragraph. While the progression of ideas is logical, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the somewhat awkward phrasing between sentences prevent a higher score. Improving the variety of transition signals would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'bad', 'damage', and 'problem' repeatedly. There are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'Individual and both hands to together' and 'make mistake plastic for food'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of less common vocabulary and the presence of errors in word formation suggest a limited range. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to environmental science and waste management.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in drainage system'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'individual who litters'), and punctuation errors. Some sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'another cause it can cause is that it can cause death in animals where by animal like turtle fish make mistake plastic for food'. These errors occasionally make the text difficult to read. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proper sentence punctuation will help improve your accuracy.

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