Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-13

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)

Products made from plastic, such as bags, bottles, and packaging materials, have a detrimental impact on the environment. Plastic releases toxic chemicals, and breaks down into tiny microplastics that pollute oceans, soil, and air. Governments must enforce bans on single-use items, tax polluters, and fund recycling systems, while individuals can refuse disposable plastics, sort their waste, and choose reusable alternatives

The primary reason why plastic cause significant damage to the environment is that marine species consume non-biodegradable waste that cause suffocation, and internal injuries, which leads to put endangered species to risk. For example, a huge number of tourists visit beaches every day, and throw plastic wrappers, bottles, and bags all around the place. Not only does it create risk for animals, such as sea turtle, fishes, and birds, but it also blocks sunlight in aquatic zones. As a result, the plastic waste can cause notable damage to the environment

There are a number of policies should be implemented by the government to minimize non-biodegradable waste to reduce landfill pressure. The government should ban the single-use plastic bags, instead people can use clothes bags for daily activities, which can significantly reduce plastic waste and protect the environment. In addition, individuals can play their part by following the laws, and rules made by authorities, which can help tackle the problem of plastic pollution.

To conclude, the use of plastic has a great negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the government can enact various laws to reduce the use of plastic, while people should take part in the policies implemented by the authorities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant, though the development is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of how plastic affects marine life is clear, but the solutions provided for individuals are a bit generic. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or elaborate on the 'why' and 'how' of your proposed solutions. The position is clear throughout, and the structure is logical, covering the required points adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem from the solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'For example', 'Not only does it...', and 'In addition' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there is occasional awkward phrasing, such as 'There are a number of policies should be implemented', which disrupts the flow. Improving the variety of cohesive links and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'detrimental impact', 'non-biodegradable', and 'aquatic zones'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'leads to put endangered species to risk' (should be 'puts endangered species at risk') and 'clothes bags' (should be 'reusable cloth bags'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'plastic cause' (subject-verb agreement error), 'policies should be implemented' (missing relative pronoun 'that'), and 'sea turtle, fishes' (pluralization error). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses and passive voice constructions.

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

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