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)

Nowadays, plastic products and packaging are the main reason for many types of pollution to the environment.

Plastic bottles and packaging have caused soil and air pollution. For example, plastics need several years to dissolve which coule affect the plants and animals. Moreover, people start heating up these bottles to get rid of them which could increase the air pollution rates.

According to a recent study, the rates of pulmonary disease like asthma and cancer have increased by twenty per cent due to the way of heating of plastics waste.

In addition, It may affects marine life. To explain more, the sea turtles and fishes may eat the plastic garbage causing them death and menace the fisheries resources. According to a journal, the Marine biodiversity has declined due to plastic bags.

To solve this issue multiple plans have to be developed. First and foremost, governments must impose fines on companies who produce plastic bags which decrease their producing. Also, the industry should replace them with reusable bags. To add more, municipalities need to increase awareness about the importance of recycling and how people should dispose of plastic responsibly. A study have shown that recycling can reduce the pollution rates by ten per cent.

Secondly, residents must show some responsibility for protecting their place by using eco friendly products and materials. To illustrate more, when residents go to shopping mall they should use paper bags.

In conclusion, plastics waste like bottles and bags have become a menace to the environment and marine wildlife. Governments and individuals must collaborate together to protect the planet from the pollution.

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 and clearly presented. However, some points are slightly under-developed; for instance, the explanation of how plastic affects plants and animals could be more specific. The position is clear throughout, and the structure follows a logical path from the problem to the solution. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported by more detailed reasoning or specific examples rather than brief mentions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem from the solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', 'First and foremost', and 'Secondly' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally good, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is mostly clear, though the connection between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to ensure a smoother progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'pulmonary disease', 'marine biodiversity', and 'eco-friendly'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'dissolve' (instead of 'decompose' or 'degrade') and 'menace the fisheries resources'. The range is sufficient for the task, but more precise and sophisticated vocabulary would be needed for a higher score. Spelling is generally accurate throughout 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 several grammatical errors, such as 'It may affects' (subject-verb agreement), 'A study have shown' (subject-verb agreement), and 'the way of heating of plastics waste' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, but the frequency of these minor grammatical slips prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. The student demonstrates an ability to construct complex sentences, but these need more careful proofreading to ensure accuracy.

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