Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-28
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)
Plastic bags , bottles and Packaging from plastic is destroying environment . This essay will examine what are the problems from these things and what actions can citizens and law makers can take to solve this issue.
Firstly , Plastic is very harmful for environment since it takes so many years to decompose. As a result it would remain in land and if animals eat it they can lost their life. Moreover,
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 the required word count of 250 words, reaching only 72 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the introduction identifies the two parts of the prompt (environmental damage and solutions), the body paragraph is cut off mid-sentence, leaving the ideas severely underdeveloped. There is no conclusion, and the response fails to provide the depth or range of arguments necessary to meet the requirements of the task. To improve, you must ensure you fully develop each point with supporting evidence and examples, and strictly adhere to the minimum word count to avoid a heavy penalty.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay lacks a clear structure due to its incomplete nature. While there is an attempt at an introduction and a body paragraph, the abrupt ending prevents any logical progression or cohesive flow. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly' and 'Moreover' are used, but the lack of content makes it difficult to assess the overall organization. Paragraphing is present but insufficient. To improve, focus on completing your thoughts and using a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas logically within and between paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'bad for the environment' and 'destroying environment' are simplistic. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'they can lost their life' instead of 'they can lose their lives'. The range is limited, and the lack of length prevents the demonstration of a wider, more sophisticated vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to environmental issues, such as 'non-biodegradable', 'ecosystem', or 'mitigation strategies'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For instance, 'Packaging from plastic is destroying environment' lacks proper articles ('the environment'). The sentence 'what actions can citizens and law makers can take' is syntactically incorrect due to the double modal usage. There are also punctuation issues, such as unnecessary spaces before commas. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and varying your sentence structures by using complex sentences with subordinate clauses.
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