Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-12

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)

It would not be unfair to state that plastic items such as bags, bottles and plastic packings are harmful for the environment. This essay will discuss what damages does plastic do to the environment and how people and governments can solve this problem.

To commence with, plastic damages to the environment. First of all, plastic effects on animals especially sea birds as well as it also damages soil and water quality. In other words, nowadays many tourisms prefer to carry packed foods and water bottles with themselves. Similarly, sometimes they through these bottles and packages anywhere especially in sea. Sometimes these plastic items consumed by animals and it hurt them a lot. For example, in Vancouver fraser river many people through their plastic packages in sea, these all consumed by seabirds due to this many animals lost their life. In tandem with this, plastic also impacts on soil and water because it includes many harmful camicals. In addition, it would be also harder for agricultural field to grow food , if this issue not get resolved. As a result, plastic is not only dangerous for the wildlife, but also it impacts on soil and water.

On the other hand, there are many possible solutions are available to solve this issue. Firstly, government should put ban on plastic bags and bottles as well. if authorities banned this all plastic items, there is no any chance people can use this plastic. Secondly, people should encourage to avoid plastic bags and bottles, they should use some alternative such as paper bags and paper packets.

In conclusion, although many people think that plastic impact a lot on environment, yet people and government can easily solve this problem while worling togeather

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 somewhat limited. While you mention harm to wildlife and soil/water quality, the explanation is repetitive and lacks depth. For instance, the example regarding the Vancouver Fraser River is relevant but lacks sufficient detail to fully illustrate the broader environmental impact. The solutions provided are also quite general; suggesting a government ban and the use of paper bags is a good start, but these points could be expanded with more specific examples or logical reasoning to reach a higher band. The position is clear, but the overall development remains basic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'First of all', 'In other words', and 'On the other hand'. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly misused, such as 'In tandem with this', which does not fit the context perfectly. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. The conclusion is very brief and does not effectively summarize the main points or provide a final thought, which limits the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'bad', 'damages', and 'harmful'. There are also some noticeable errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'camicals' (chemicals), 'tourisms' (tourists), and 'through' (threw). While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated lexical items. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to environmental issues, such as 'non-biodegradable', 'pollution', or 'sustainable alternatives'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'plastic effects on animals'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'if this issue not get resolved'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain errors that affect clarity. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining your use of conditional structures (e.g., 'if authorities were to ban...').

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

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