Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-04
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)
Undoubtedly, protecting the environment has become a global priority due to the increase in pollution and climate change. In the contemporary era, it has been seen that the usage of single use plastic has been increasing and it has been impacting the environment in numerous ways. This essay will discuss the damages done by the plastic bags, and bottles and will also suggest the measures authorities and people take to plummet this issue.
To commence with, there are a number of damages done to the environment by the usage of plastic. The prominent one, its harmful affects to the wildlife. To explain, animals and marine creatures mistake plastic as food. As a result, they may choke, suffer internal injuries or die. Secondly, land and water pollution caused by the accumulation of the plastic bottles, bags and packaging. To explicate, plastic is non biodegradable that means it will stay in the landfill for hundreds of years. Consequently, it will reduce the quality of life and increase pollution.
However, there are many initiatives that can be taken by the government and individuals. Firstly, the government can impose strict laws on the ban of single use plastic. To be precise, the strict law will make people carry their own reusable bags or bottles when stepping out of the house. Apart from this, nationwide awareness campaigns can be launched in which people can be taught various ways they can reduce the usage of plastic in their everyday life. Also the individuals can separate the recycling garbage in separate bins that can make it easier to decompose.
In conclusion, although there are many damages done by the usage of plastic such as polluting the environment, yet there are many steps that can be taken by the government for instance, imposing strict laws and the people to reduce its impact to the natural habitat.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant, such as the impact on wildlife and the non-biodegradable nature of plastic. However, the development is somewhat limited; for instance, the suggestion to 'separate the recycling garbage' is a bit vague and could have been expanded with more specific examples of waste management. The position is clear throughout, but the conclusion is slightly repetitive and lacks a strong summary of the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed explanations or concrete examples.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main aspects of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Secondly', and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing in the conclusion is slightly awkward, particularly the phrase 'the people to reduce its impact to the natural habitat', which lacks a clear connection to the previous clause. Improving the flow between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at topic-specific language like 'non-biodegradable', 'accumulation', and 'nationwide awareness campaigns'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'harmful affects' (should be 'effects') and 'plummet this issue' (which is an incorrect collocation; 'plummet' refers to a rapid decrease in value or amount, not solving a problem). While the range is sufficient to convey meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. Focusing on accurate collocations will help improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the usage of single use plastic has been increasing' (tense choice) and 'the measures authorities and people take to plummet this issue' (missing 'should'). Additionally, there are punctuation and article errors, such as 'the ban of single use plastic' (should be 'on the use of') and 'separate the recycling garbage in separate bins'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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