Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-01

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)

Indeed, items that contain plastic materials are causing a significant problems to the environment as those products are hard to dismantle in the ground. These plastic items take a considerable amount of time in earth's soil to dissolve on its own and effect natural minerals critically. In my opinion, encouraging citizens to use alternatives options such as paper bags and straws would ultimately improve the condition of the environment.

To begin with, products such as plastic bags, plastic bottles create a massive hazardous waste, causing a toxic atmosphere for creatures like animals and birds to live in. an excessive amount of plastic wastes harm soil negatively as those wastes can not be used as a fertilizer unlike other food wastes. For example, in developing countries, cows and dogs often find foods in the plastic bags from community wastage bins, making it a difficult for them to survive. As a result, usage of plastic materials have caused a numerous problems.

To solve these problems, governments and individuals can take several steps, which can contribute to resolve these problems. One of the primary solutions is that governments can organize awareness campaigns and advertisements, which can educate individuals from small towns on how plastic items are dangerous for the environment. For example, many countries have banned a polythene bags to reduce plastic consumption, and to swap it with paper bags, which can be recycled afterwards. Therefore, this eco-friendly method can create a huge impact, as it involves items that can be reused and are an ideal for the environment.

In conclusion, although is issue presents several challenges, appropriate measures taken by governments and individuals can significantly reduce its negative impact.

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 position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while the impact on animals is mentioned, the explanation of how plastic affects the broader ecosystem or human health could be more detailed to reach a higher band. The examples provided, such as the mention of cows and dogs in developing countries, are relevant but could be integrated more smoothly into the argument. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'For example', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the use of 'this issue' in the conclusion, which could be more explicitly linked to the preceding arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the progression of ideas is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved for better cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'hazardous waste', 'eco-friendly', and 'consumption'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'dismantle in the ground' (should be 'decompose') and 'effect natural minerals' (should be 'affect'). Additionally, phrases like 'a numerous problems' are grammatically incorrect. While the range is sufficient to communicate, more precise and varied vocabulary would be needed to achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout, including article usage ('an excessive amount', 'a polythene bags'), subject-verb agreement ('usage of plastic materials have caused'), and word form errors ('an ideal for the environment'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not generally impede communication. The writer demonstrates an attempt at complex structures, but control is inconsistent. To improve, the student should focus on article usage and ensuring that subjects and verbs agree, as well as refining the use of prepositions and determiners.

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