Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

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; 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 gases, 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 of 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 ecosystem 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 an individual level.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of microplastics and the suggestion of fabric alternatives. However, the development is somewhat limited; for instance, the explanation of how plastic production warms the earth is brief and lacks depth. While the position is clear, the arguments could be extended with more specific examples or detailed reasoning to reach a higher band. Overall, the response is a solid, on-topic attempt that covers the requirements adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The use of cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Lastly' provides a clear structure, although the usage is somewhat mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem from the solutions. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, though the transition between the environmental impact and the solutions could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, and the essay maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some good collocations such as 'non-renewable resource', 'biodiversity', and 'environmentally friendly'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'becomes cancer in their stomach', which is not a natural collocation. The range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, but there is limited use of less common or sophisticated lexical items. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and avoid repetitive phrasing like 'plastic products' or 'environmentally friendly' used multiple times.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some error-free sentences, there are also grammatical slips, such as 'means that once the plastic is made it takes...' (missing subject 'which') and 'individuals can look for using alternatives' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, but some sentences are slightly clunky. The control of grammar is sufficient to ensure that the message is always clear, but the range of complex structures is somewhat limited, preventing a higher score.

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