Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Pollution is one of the major issues being faced by the planet and plastic is largely contributing towards both land and air pollution.

Since decades, plastic has been extensively used in packaging without even realizing that it can damage the environment irreversibly. Plastic cannot be recycled due to which the chemicals stay in the environment for ages and most of them are carcinogenic. There is no proper or safe way to dispose off the plastic because if it is burned, it will release toxic gases in the atmosphere, leading to air pollution and if it is left as it is in the environment, it will affect the fertility of the soil and will not be decayed for centuries.

Efforts are required on both individual and government levels to control the harmful effects of plastic use. The government should ban plastic and encourage use of recyclable packaging materials such as paper. Additionally, extra taxes should be imposed on the plastic goods so that people tend to buy them less and campaigns should be launched to plant more tress to improve air quality.

On an individual level, people should try to dispose off wastes properly and recycle things as much as they can. They should bycott the companies who are still making plastic products such as bages, straws or bottles.

To summarise, the burden of saving the environment cannot be put on a single person or entity instead it requires collective efforts to come up with sustainable ways 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 (soil fertility, toxic gases) and proposing solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. However, the development is somewhat limited; for instance, the suggestion to 'plant more trees' is a general environmental measure rather than a direct solution to plastic pollution. To reach a higher band, the arguments could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis of why certain measures, such as taxation or boycotting, are effective. The position is clear throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points.

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 are used, such as 'Additionally', 'On an individual level', and 'To summarise', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some minor improvements in the variety of linking words would enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated terms like 'carcinogenic' and 'irreversibly'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'dispose off' (should be 'dispose of') and 'bycott' (spelling error: 'boycott'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. The repetition of basic terms like 'plastic' and 'environment' is noticeable, and the student would benefit from using a wider variety of synonyms to improve the lexical flow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'Since decades' (should be 'For decades') and 'dispose off' (incorrect phrasal verb usage). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally correct, but there are minor issues with sentence construction, such as the run-on sentence in the second paragraph. To improve, the student should focus on mastering common phrasal verbs and ensuring consistent tense usage throughout the text.

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

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