Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
Plastic pollution poses a severe environmental threat due to its non-biodegradable nature. when discarded improperly, plastic items break down into microplastics, contaminating soil and aquatic ecosystems. Marine animals often ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, causing injury or death. Furthermore, plastic production relies heavily on fossil fuels, releasing significant greenhouse gases that accelerate global climate change.
Addressing this issue requires coordinated effort from both governments and individuals. Governments must implement strict legislative policies, such as banning single-use plastics, imposing taxes on plastic production, and subsidizing eco-friendly alternatives like biodegradable packaging. Additionally, investing in advanced recycling infrastructure and enforcing producer responsibility laws can significantly reduce plastic waste.
On an individual level, people can adopt sustainable habits by following the principle of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Consumers should choose reusable steel bottles and refillable containers over single-use options. Individuals can also support businesses that prioritize minimal, eco-friendly packaging, thereby driving market demand toward sustainability,
In conclusion, while plastic causes extensive ecological damage, a combination of proactive government policy and conscious consumer choices can effectively mitigate this global challenge.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. However, the response is significantly under-length at 177 words, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This prevents the development of ideas to the level required for a higher band. While the points made are relevant, they remain brief and lack the depth, specific examples, or detailed explanation needed to fully explore the topic. To improve, you must expand on your arguments with more concrete examples and detailed analysis to reach the word count.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the environmental impacts from the proposed solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Additionally', and 'On an individual level' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow. While the text is short, the internal structure is sound and demonstrates a good grasp of how to connect ideas logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the topic. You have used some sophisticated terms such as 'non-biodegradable', 'aquatic ecosystems', 'greenhouse gases', and 'mitigate'. These choices demonstrate a good range of vocabulary. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. While the range is sufficient, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more varied collocations or less common idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a higher level of lexical flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The writing displays a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the participial phrase 'contaminating soil and aquatic ecosystems' and the conditional structure 'while plastic causes... a combination... can effectively mitigate'. Punctuation is generally accurate, although there is a minor capitalization error at the start of the second sentence ('when discarded...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the grammatical control is consistent throughout the short response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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