Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-27

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 6.5)

Plastic usage is very harmful for the environment. Major negative effects of plastic and what remedies governments can take to solve this issue are discussed in the following paragraphs.

Plastic products or packaging damage the environment or biodiversity in a plethora of ways.

Firstly, plastic is a non-renewable resource this means that once the plastic is made it takes hundreds of years for it to be renewed. Since plastic is made up of a mixture of oil and gasses, this process warms up the earth. Secondly, plastic breaks down into pieces called microplastics which by mistake animals eat from trash which later on becomes cancer in their stomach. Lastly, dumping of plastic into soil and rivers does poison both and affect animals and humans. Thus, plastic products are very harmful for the ecosystem.

Governments and humans both can overcome this problem if they take these major steps.

Firstly, Governments can ban industries from producing plastic which adversely affects the environment. Secondly, individuals can look for using alternatives instead of plastic such as bags made up from fabric or other environmentally friendly bags instead of plastic bags. Thirdly, governments can introduce fines on stores which sell plastic materials which can be easily replaced by other environmentally friendly alternatives. Thus, these steps can alleviate the issue.

In conclusion, the usage of plastic adversely affects the eco system in unimaginable ways. Both government and individuals can avoid these effects by banning plastic usage on an industrial level as well as avoiding it at individual level.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation of microplastics is brief and lacks depth, and the suggestion that plastic is 'made up of a mixture of oil and gasses' is scientifically imprecise. While the position is clear throughout, the ideas could be extended further with more specific examples or detailed reasoning to reach a higher band. The structure is logical, but the content remains at a general level rather than providing a sophisticated analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Lastly', and 'In conclusion' provides a logical flow. However, the cohesion is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Some transitions between sentences are slightly abrupt, and the referencing could be more varied. For instance, the repetition of 'plastic' and 'environment' at the start of many sentences makes the text feel a bit formulaic. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use some less common vocabulary, such as 'plethora', 'adversely', and 'alleviate'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'becomes cancer in their stomach' (which is not a standard way to describe the health impact of microplastics) and 'renewed' when referring to the degradation of plastic. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more precise terminology would elevate the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, the sentence 'Plastic is a non-renewable resource this means that...' is a run-on sentence that requires a semicolon or a conjunction. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'made up from fabric' (should be 'made of'). Despite these errors, the grammar does not impede communication, and the student demonstrates a reasonable grasp of sentence construction.

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