Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The widespread use of plastic items, including bags, bottles and packaging, has resulted in significant environmental challenges worldwide. This essay will discuss the negative impacts of plastic pollution and outline the responsibilities of governments and individuals in tacking this growing problem.

On the one hand, plastic products have caused significant damage to the environment including marine life. Plastic does not decompose completely in the soil which results in pollution and damaging the entire ecosystem. For example, most of the marine animals die due to the spread of plastic materials found in oceans, animals such as turtle, fish get trapped in the bags and it makes it difficult for them to breathe. Additionally, humans are also drinking water which is contaminated due to the smaller particles of plastics which result in severe health conditions.

On the other hand, I believe both The government and individuals should be held accountable to solve this issues. Government should ban all the plastic products and take serious action on the public who pollute the environment. However, Individual should also take the initiative by not using the plastic products and promoting the recyclable products to reduce the pollution. Furthermore, I believe campaigns should be run and educate people about the harmful impacts of using plastic for them and for future generations.

In Conclusion, Although plastic damages the environment and marine life, but I think that if both the government and individuals come together and are held accountable which can result in "No Plastic" use and promote recyclable products to save the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the suggestion that governments should 'ban all plastic products' is a broad, sweeping statement that lacks nuance or practical explanation. Similarly, the impact on marine life is mentioned, but the explanation remains quite general. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or elaborate on the 'how' and 'why' of your proposed solutions, ensuring that your arguments are fully extended rather than just stated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

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. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by minor errors in sentence structure, such as the final sentence which is a fragment rather than a complete, grammatically sound conclusion. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence connects smoothly to the next would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'widespread', 'contaminated', and 'accountable'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices or minor errors, such as 'tacking' instead of 'tackling' and 'the public who pollute' which is slightly awkward phrasing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to environmental science. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'humans are also drinking water which is contaminated due to the smaller particles' is slightly clunky, and there are errors with articles and pluralization, such as 'solve this issues' (should be 'these issues') and 'Individual should also' (should be 'Individuals'). The final sentence is grammatically incomplete, which affects the overall accuracy. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help you achieve a higher score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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