Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23

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 bags, bottles and Packaging have became an essential part of modern life because they are very cheap and easily accessible. However, the excessive use of plastic has created serious environmental issues. Plastic pollution damages wildlife and ecosystem. while both government and individual have an important role to play in reducing this issue.

Firstly, one of the major problem caused by plastic is that it takes a long time to decompose. As a result, large quantities of plastic waste collect in land, rivers and oceans. Due to that many marine animals, such as fish, turtles and birds, may eat plastic for food and either swallow it. This can cause injuries or death. Furthermore, plastic generally breaks down in smaller particles called microplastics. which can entre in food chain and contaminate soil and water. Consequently, plastic pollution can have huge adverse impact on ecosystem.

To resolve that, government can address this issue by introducing strict law to reduce the usage of single-use plastic. For example, they could ban or charge higher fees for plastic bags to encourage business to use reusable or environment friendly alternatives. Local authority should invest in recycling facilities and organize public awareness campaign to educate people about the danger of plastic waste.

Moreover, individuals also need to take responsibility for their daily choice. People can reduce their use of disposable plastic by carrying reusable shopping bags, bottles and food containers. They should also separate recyclable waste from other household waste and dispose of plastic properly. For instance, using a reusable of water bottles instead of buying a new plastic bottle every time can reduce the amount of waste produce over time.

In conclusion, plastic cause considerable damage to the environment by polluting water and land and threatening wildlife. Although, government can create strict rules and improve recycling system, Individuals must also change their daily habits. Only through the combined efforts of both can plastic pollution be reduced effectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage caused by plastic and proposing solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat standard; for instance, the explanation of microplastics is accurate but could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The position is clear throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To improve, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed reasoning or specific real-world examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the environmental impact or the role of government. Cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, there are minor issues with punctuation and sentence structure that occasionally affect the flow, such as the fragmented sentence 'which can entre in food chain'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring sentence boundaries are correctly marked would enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task and allows for clear communication. You used terms like 'decompose', 'microplastics', 'contaminate', and 'disposable' correctly. There are some minor errors, such as 'have became' (should be 'have become') and 'entre' (should be 'enter'). While the range is sufficient to convey your ideas, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items would help elevate the score. For example, instead of 'huge adverse impact', you could use 'detrimental consequences'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you successfully use complex sentences, there are recurring grammatical errors that slightly impact the quality. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('plastic cause' instead of 'plastic causes'), incorrect verb forms ('have became'), and punctuation errors, such as starting a sentence with 'while' or 'which' incorrectly. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that subordinate clauses are correctly attached to main clauses.

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

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