Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Although, many people believe that Plastic containers are more convenient and not harmful for nature. I think in a reverse manner and disagree to the given statement. My inclination is to justified in the following paragraph.
Out of all the arguments the strongest one to prove my view is there are some plastics which can not be recycled because of there sizes. This is to say that by their very tiny sizes they need to get burn which can create a lot pollution and create a air disease. Besides this, it is also true that plastic is made of different type of chemicals which harm our body unknowingly. Such as drinking water and eating food in plastic containers. By this i mean that Most of the to go food get packed in plastic wraps, which is dangerous for our digestive systems. For decreasing this problem, i think government can ban plastic in grocery shops and in restaurants and launch eco friendly containers and bags which should be cheap in price. So that people can have the best and cheap quality in one thing.
On the contrary, some people counter claim the mentioned support. The foremost arguments they do is plastic is reusable and will not harm environment that much. Secondly, they say mostly people prefer to use plastic containers for storing there food as it's very easy to take anywhere and easy to get on every local shop.
Thus, to wrap up the discussion, it can be said that despite using plastic in daily life and getting habitual for this is not good for health. My reason is that plastic is somehow destroying environment and health both with getting noticed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the environmental damage caused by plastic and potential solutions. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention pollution and health risks, the explanation remains superficial. For instance, the point about 'air disease' is vague and lacks scientific clarity. The solutions provided—banning plastic and using eco-friendly alternatives—are relevant but could be expanded with more specific examples or logical steps. The position is clear, but the overall depth of analysis is more characteristic of a Band 5.5 or 6.0 response, as the arguments are not fully extended.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'My inclination is to justified in the following paragraph' is grammatically awkward and does not serve as a smooth transition. The use of 'On the contrary' to introduce the opposing view is acceptable, but the overall flow between sentences is frequently interrupted by grammatical errors. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the logical progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, making the text feel repetitive in its conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'bad', 'harmful', and 'easy'. There are several instances of incorrect word choice or collocation, such as 'create a air disease' and 'getting habitual for this'. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of your message. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to environmental issues, such as 'non-biodegradable', 'toxic chemicals', or 'sustainable alternatives', and ensure that words are used in their correct grammatical context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There is a high frequency of grammatical errors throughout the essay, which affects readability. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('Most of the to go food get packed'), incorrect verb forms ('need to get burn'), and punctuation errors. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at complex sentences often contain errors, such as the opening sentence fragment. While the meaning is generally understandable, the persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the essay from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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