Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07

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 7.5)

Plastic products such as bags, bottles and packaging have become a major environmental concern due to their widespread use and improper disposal. Although plastic is convenient and inexpensive, it causes serious damage to environment. This essay will discuss the harmful effects of plastic pollution and suggest how governments and individuals can address this issue.

One of the biggest problems caused by plastic is pollution in water and land. Since most plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, it accumulates in rivers and oceans. As a result, many marine animals mistakenly eat plastic or trapped in it, often leading to injury or death. Furthermore, tiny particles, known as microplastics, have also entered food chain and may pose risks to both wildlife and human health. Burning plastic waste also release harmful gases, which contribute to air pollution and climate change.

To tackle this problem, governments should introduce stricter laws to reduce the production and use of single use-plastics. For example, imposing taxes or banning plastic bags can encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. Governments should also invest in recycling facilities and organize public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about responsible waste management.

At the same time, individuals have an important role to play. People can reduce plastic waste by carrying reusable plastic bags, water bottles and food containers instead of disposable ones. In addition, they should recycle plastic whenever it is possible. Even small changes in daily habits can make a significant difference when adopted by millions of people.

In conclusion, plastic pollution has severe consequences for the environment, wildlife and human health. However, this problem can be effectively reduced if governments implement stronger environmental policies and individuals make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage (pollution, harm to wildlife, microplastics, and air quality) and proposing solutions for both governments and individuals. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are logically extended. For example, the explanation of how microplastics enter the food chain and the specific suggestions for government intervention (taxes, bans) demonstrate a good level of development. To reach a higher band, the essay could benefit from more specific, real-world examples or a slightly deeper exploration of the long-term consequences of plastic pollution to further strengthen the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For example', and 'At the same time' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow of information is smooth, and the reader is guided through the argument without difficulty. The use of transition signals is natural and contributes to the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'decompose', 'microplastics', 'sustainable', and 'responsible waste management' accurately. There are some minor errors, such as 'or trapped in it' (should be 'or get trapped in it') and 'also release' (should be 'also releases'), but these do not impede communication. The range of vocabulary is adequate to convey ideas with precision. To improve, the student could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range of expression.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There are a few minor slips, such as the missing article in 'entered food chain' (should be 'the food chain') and the subject-verb agreement error in 'Burning plastic waste also release' (should be 'releases'). However, these are occasional and do not affect the clarity of the message. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient to maintain interest and demonstrate control over complex structures.

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