Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-31

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)

Plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide. The excessive use of plastic bags, bottles, and packaging causes serious damage the ecosystem and human health. However, the issue can be addressed through combined efforts by both governments and individuals.

Plastic pollution has devastating effects on the environment. One major problem is most plastic material is non-biodegradable, meaning they remain in landfills and natural habitats for hundred of years. As a result, soil and water become contaminated, reducing the quality of ecosystem. Moreover, large quantity of plastic waste enter into rivers and oceans, where marine animals often mistake it for food or become trapped in it. leading to injury and even death.

To tackle this problem, governments need to implement certain regulation on the production and consumption of plastic. Governments should impose higher taxes or outright bans on purchasing plastic bags or related things, which discourage people from purchasing them in large quantities and encourage the usage of eco-friendly products. For instance, In India, there is strict ban on single-use plastic bags, successfully helping to reduce the plastic waste. Moreover, individuals can also contribute to tackle this growing issue by choosing eco-friendly products and choosing healthy habits, such as carrying reusable shopping bags, using refillable water bottles, and choosing products with minimal or recyclable packaging. These small, but consistent actions, when adopted by millions of people, can collectively make a substantial difference.

In conclusion, plastic pollution seriously threatens the environment because this material is often non- biodegradable. Although it is complex global issue, strong governmental regulations combined with individuals' responsible behaviors can greatly reduce plastic waste and protect the environment for future generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with a clear example from India. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of ideas could be slightly more extensive; for instance, the explanation of how plastic affects human health is mentioned in the introduction but not explicitly detailed in the body paragraphs. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'For instance' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the problem and the proposed solutions is clearly established. The use of referencing is generally accurate, contributing to the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'non-biodegradable', 'landfills', 'contaminated', and 'eco-friendly' correctly. While the range is adequate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. There are minor errors in word formation, such as 'large quantity' (should be 'large quantities') and 'certain regulation' (should be 'certain regulations'), but these do not impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'Although it is a complex global issue, strong governmental regulations...'. However, there are some persistent minor errors, such as missing articles ('there is strict ban') and subject-verb agreement issues ('most plastic material is' vs 'most plastic materials are'). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The control of grammar is sufficient to maintain a professional tone throughout the essay.

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