Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
In contemporary society, the usage of plastic is ubiquitous in every sector which leads detrimental impact on the eco-system. Although there are numerous destructive of the usage of plastic to the environment, collective efforts of the people who are in power and society can mitigate the issue and this essay will discuss the both.
The one compelling adverse effect of plastic usage is that it not only leads to water, air and soil pollution, but also harmful for animals health. Its composition consists chemical that are takes years to discompose which resulting in the waste plastic everywhere. For example, lots of plastic waste release by industries in the rivers or burning of it release chemical leading air pollution. Thus, usage of plastic results in damage eco-system.
Despite the above impacts, there
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response is significantly under-length, containing only 131 words, which is well below the 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the task is not fully addressed. While the introduction identifies the topic and the first body paragraph touches upon the environmental damage caused by plastic, the essay is incomplete. It fails to address the second part of the prompt regarding solutions from governments and individuals, as the text cuts off abruptly. Because the response is unfinished and fails to develop the required ideas, it cannot meet the criteria for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a basic attempt at paragraphing, but the abrupt ending prevents a logical flow or a complete structure. Cohesive devices are used in a limited way, such as 'Although' and 'For example', but the lack of a conclusion or a second body paragraph means the progression of ideas is severely hindered. The text lacks the necessary structure to demonstrate effective paragraphing or a clear, logical development of an argument, which is essential for higher band scores.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are noticeable errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'destructive of the usage' (should be 'destructive effects') and 'consists chemical' (should be 'consists of chemicals'). The phrase 'discompose' is used incorrectly; 'decompose' would be the appropriate term. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'eco-system' and 'ubiquitous', the overall range is limited and the errors occasionally impede the clarity of the message.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. Examples include 'which leads detrimental impact' (missing 'to a'), 'that are takes years' (incorrect verb form), and 'lots of plastic waste release by industries' (passive voice error). Punctuation and sentence construction are often faulty, which causes some difficulty for the reader. The grammatical control is inconsistent, and the errors are frequent enough to limit the score to the 5.0 band.
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