Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17
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)
Over the past few years, plastic materials are used by people in huge amount, which may dangerous for the eco- system, there by individuals and government should take initial steps. Although, ocean , land harm and bad soil major issues, there are effective ways to tackle them which will be explored in the following paragraphs.
One compelling issue is the ocean and land farm. As people used more plastic bottles, such as water and cold drink bottles and never recycled it ,as a result land farm produce toxics which are harmful for the all species. Also, it would be dangerous for the sea species ,with this, fertility would be decreased. Foe example, in India street animals consumes plastic bags and it would be killed to them. Another issue is bad soil ,which stopped the growth of plants ,water and air. It would be unsafe for land species.
Despite the use of plastics should be either banned by government or recycle properly, by which environment pollution may reduce. Apart from this, people should use paper bags which are eco friendly and should used metal water bottles and glass jars. However, government should placed recycle machines in every area even though government can make strict rules and can take strict action towards companies who are using plastic materials. For example, carry a tote bag when shopping for groceries removes the need for plastic store bags. Everyone should follow the rules which are good for environment.
In conclusion, emphasize that stopping plastic pollution is a shared duty. Individuals and government can protect the earth for future generations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of how plastic causes 'bad soil' is vague and lacks scientific clarity. While the response covers the required points, the arguments are not fully extended or supported with sophisticated reasoning. The examples provided, such as the mention of street animals in India, are relevant but could be integrated more smoothly to strengthen the overall argument. To reach a higher band, focus on providing more detailed explanations for your claims.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'with this' and 'by which' are used incorrectly, which disrupts the flow of ideas. Additionally, some transitions between sentences are abrupt, making the progression of thought feel disjointed at times. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs improvement to ensure that ideas are linked more naturally and effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'land farm' (likely meant to be 'landfill') and 'it would be killed to them'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic terms like 'bad' and 'dangerous' rather than more descriptive or academic alternatives. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more precise terminology related to environmental issues, and ensure that words are used in their correct context.
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 clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'plastic materials are used... which may dangerous'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'government should placed recycle machines'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and verb forms would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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