Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05

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)

Our environment is being polluted day by day, and the main reason behind that is plastic. This essay will not only explain how plastic damages the earth but also provide various ways to protect it and why it is important to stop using it wherever possible.

To begin with, plastic contains toxic chemicals, which are harmful to oceans, soil, and the atmosphere. All the plastic, such as bottles and packing material, fills up the oceans. Due to that, aquatic animals are in danger. Some species are endangered. If it mixes with the soil, it makes water and crops polluted. This is the main cause of the rapid increase in diseases like cancer.

Moving forward, the government needs to fully ban plastic and find alternatives. The production of plastic water bottles and bags needs to be stopped. It should only be used for essential items. For example, in the healthcare field, plastic gloves are used at a high rate, which is necessary. Until a better alternative is available, we have to use them. However, plastic grocery bags and bottles can be replaced. Thus, people need to be aware that toxic chemicals are dangerous to the environment and need to stop using plastic wherever possible.

At the end, saving our planet is very crucial, and this is only possible if everyone is aware of the harmful effects of plastic. All the steps should be taken by the government and citizens to remove it because it is harmful to all living creatures, such as animals and birds.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: it identifies environmental damage caused by plastic and suggests solutions for governments and individuals. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of how plastic impacts the atmosphere is vague, and the solutions provided, while relevant, lack depth and specific examples beyond the healthcare sector. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations or concrete examples. The position is clear throughout, but the overall development remains at a general level rather than a fully extended one.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

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', 'Moving forward', and 'For example' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better integration of ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'toxic chemicals', 'aquatic animals', and 'endangered'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler, repetitive phrasing (e.g., 'harmful', 'plastic'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and collocations. For example, instead of 'bad for the environment', you could use 'detrimental to the ecosystem'. There are no significant spelling errors, but the lack of sophisticated lexical variety keeps the score in the mid-range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is not impeded, the range of structures is somewhat limited. You rely heavily on basic sentence patterns. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'At the end' (should be 'In conclusion') and 'used at a high rate' (which is slightly unnatural). To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more varied complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, with greater precision and fewer repetitive patterns.

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

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