Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-22

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)

It is irrefutable fact that plastic has a detrimental effect on the environment. It pollutes land and water and affects the fertility of the soil. Limiting the use of plastic is by far the most effective way to reduce its impact on the planet.

To begin with, plastic bags, bottles and packaging materials are non-biodegradable and remains in the environment fort a ling time. Due to this, it pollutes the soil and air and leads to life threatening diseases. When plastic packaging gets mixed with soil, it affects the breathability of the soil and hurts the fertility. In addition, if plastic waste reaches to the water bodies, aquatic animals may choke on it and die. Sometimes, people burn the plastic to get rid of it and this. process releases poisonous gases into the air. Thus, the use of plastic can lead to disastrous effects like air, water and soil pollution as well as transmission of the diseases among animals and humans.

Limiting the use of plastic is the most effective way to mitigate this issue. There should be blanket ban on the use of plastic materials. As the government is the main ruling body, it can implement stringent rules and punishments on the use of the plastic materials. Moreover, the cooperation of the people is equally important. They should use paper or cloth bags to avoid plastic packaging. In addition to this, people should start recycling and reusing materials.

In conclusion, continuous use of plastic can results in irreversible environmental damage. Hence, until scientists manage to invent biodegradable plastic, the only solution we have is to limit the use of plastic.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, while you mention that plastic affects soil fertility and aquatic life, these points could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The solutions provided are relevant but remain at a general level. To improve, ensure that each point is fully supported with a clear explanation or a concrete example to demonstrate a more sophisticated level of engagement with the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'Moreover' to link your thoughts. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'and this. process' where the punctuation disrupts the flow. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the argument effectively. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the internal structure of sentences flows more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'non-biodegradable', 'mitigate', and 'stringent'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'transmission of the diseases' (should be 'spread of diseases') and 'blanket ban on the use of plastic materials' (could be more naturally phrased). There are also a few minor spelling errors, such as 'fort a ling time' instead of 'for a long time'. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater nuance.

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 occur throughout the text, such as 'remains in the environment' (subject-verb agreement: 'plastic... remains'), 'reaches to the water bodies' (unnecessary preposition), and 'can results in' (should be 'can result in'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a lack of consistent control over complex structures. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions, and aim for more error-free sentences when using complex grammar.

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

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