Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

In this modern era , more and more institutions are using the plastic more often that causes several health problems as well as environmental problems , plastic is hazardous for the planet that creates many issues , However organizations will have to take serious actions to promoting plastic , this essay will include the causes which are happening from the using of plastic products as well as steps the government would like to take.

First of all , plastic is the worst thing for the planet and people there are severe health diseases that are causes for using plastics such as Stomach infections , Skin problems , hair loss and up to may more , the big organizations are using plastic bottles because they have antique packaging to promoting their brands that way people feels more attraction towards products that is their marketing strategy for saving money for selling more products , Let me be clear with the example Lakme is one the the famous brands for makeup they use plastic materials to packaging their products and their packaging is attractive towards women's that they can not deny to buy the makeup products from that brand in this way they are saving up money for using plastic and on the other hand they are making profit out of it for selling that makeup at expensive rates.

In my second paragraph , I would like to mention that the government should have to take major steps towards the people as well as organizations which are using plastic instead of plastic they are using glass, metal , wooden these could be use in exchange of plastic. Let me core and insist with an example restaurants are using wooden forks and sticks instead of plastic that will be convenient for environment and people on the top that it is good for individuals health.

In my conclusion , i would like to say that taking care of environment is not only governments duty it is the responsibility of every individual as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the environmental damage caused by plastic and potential solutions. However, the development of ideas is inconsistent. The discussion on health impacts is somewhat anecdotal and lacks scientific depth, while the focus on 'Lakme' as a primary example of plastic waste is narrow and does not fully address the broader environmental impact of plastic pollution. The solutions provided are relevant but remain somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, you should provide more comprehensive arguments regarding the systemic environmental damage (e.g., ocean pollution, microplastics) and more detailed, actionable policy-level solutions beyond just replacing materials.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is often disrupted by run-on sentences and awkward transitions. For instance, the introduction is a single, long, comma-spliced sentence that makes it difficult to follow the essay's roadmap. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'First of all', 'In my second paragraph'), they are used mechanically. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the connection between ideas within paragraphs is weak. Improving the use of linking words and breaking down long, convoluted sentences into distinct, logical points would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'bad', 'big', and 'things'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'promoting plastic' (when you likely meant 'reducing' or 'regulating') and 'saving up money for using plastic'. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'packaging' and 'environmental', the range is insufficient to express complex ideas with precision. To improve, focus on learning collocations related to environmental issues and avoid using informal or imprecise phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There is a heavy reliance on comma splices, where independent clauses are joined incorrectly with commas rather than full stops or conjunctions. Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent (e.g., 'people feels more attraction'), and there are errors with articles and pluralisation (e.g., 'the the famous brands'). While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring each sentence has a clear subject and verb, and using punctuation to separate distinct thoughts.

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

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