Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-29

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 7.5)

The growing use of plastics in various industries has become a subject of considerable debate in recent years. It is an undeniable fact that this trend negatively impacts the environment. This essay will elaborate on the environmental damage caused by the plastic items and discuss the steps to mitigate the problem.

With regard to the first question, there are numerous ill effects of plastic usage on the natural world. To begin with, plastic takes thousands of years to decompose and thus accumulates in landfills. Consequently, this contributes to pollution and waste management problems. Furthermore, improper disposal of plastics results in water pollution, endangering aquatic species. This leads to an imbalance in the ecosystem and disrupts the food chain. For instance, according to United Nations, around 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced globally every year. This highlights the need of switching to more sustainable options.

Regarding to the second question, society plays a fundamental role in addressing the issue. Government should impose a strict ban on plastics, especially single-use plastics, while promoting more environmentally friendly alternatives, including cloth, paper, and other biodegradable materials. At the individual level, people should minimize using plastics by carrying reusable bags for shopping, using metal or glass water bottles, and opting for paper packaging. A clear illustration of this can be seen in places where restrictions on single-use plastic products have encouraged businesses to adopt reusable and eco-friendly alternatives such as paper cups, straws, and bags. These actions have significantly reduced plastic pollution and improved cleanliness.

In conclusion, the increasing use of plastics across almost every sector poses a significant threat to the environment. It is a high time that society came together to tackle this issue by adopting sustainable practices and reduce plastic consumption, thereby ensuring a cleaner, greener, and a more sustainable future for coming generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage (landfill accumulation, water pollution, ecosystem imbalance) and proposing solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of ideas could be more extensive; for instance, the explanation of how government bans specifically function or the long-term impact of individual actions could be elaborated further to provide a more comprehensive analysis. However, the response successfully covers all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear. The flow is smooth, and the reader is guided through the argument without confusion. The use of transitions is natural and contributes to the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'decompose', 'landfills', 'sustainable options', and 'biodegradable materials' accurately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. While the range is adequate, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a higher level of lexical flexibility. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, and the tone remains formal and academic throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a high level of accuracy, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Minor slips occur, such as 'the need of switching' (should be 'need to switch') and 'Regarding to the second question' (should be 'Regarding the second question'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not hinder the reader's understanding. The use of punctuation is generally correct, and the grammatical control is strong enough to support the clear communication of ideas.

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