Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-25

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 6.0)

In today’s era, plastic has made a devastating effect on environment in many aspects such as plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging. It’s the need of the hour for both the government and individuals to look into this serious matter otherwise it would have very dangerous repercussions on the coming generations. Through this essay, all the consequences of over usage of plastic as well as its preventions will be discussed.

To begin with, plastic is a non renewable material , therefore, it is not being replaced by nature as fast as people use it. It has very dangerous effects on the environment like if the plastic bottles and plastic bags are thrown inside the oceans or rivers, it makes very difficult for aquatic animals to breathe which leads to extinction of large number of fishes. Adding to this , it can also block the sewage system and when plastic burns it releases very harmful gases like carbon monoxide which is fatal for humans .

Furthermore, I believe it is the duty of every individual to take care of our environment . So , government should aware today’s generation about the harmful effects of plastic which will encourage them to use less plastic . Government should ban plastic bags in shops and shopping malls . Every individual should carry their natural bags which are renewable . Government should open some shops where people can get money on recycling plastic bottles.

To conclude that, I believe these plastic materials are destroying our environment to a greater extent. So , it’s the need of an hour for every individual to reduce the usage of plastic and start using cotton bags . Government should also enact strict laws on over usage of plastics .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

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 blocks sewage systems and releases carbon monoxide, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The solutions provided, such as banning plastic bags and recycling incentives, are relevant but could be explained in more detail regarding their potential impact. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt, but it lacks the depth of argumentation required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'To conclude', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. For example, the sentence 'To conclude that, I believe...' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Additionally, some sentences within paragraphs could be better linked to improve the overall progression of ideas. Despite these minor issues, the essay is easy to follow and the paragraphing is appropriate.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'non-renewable', 'aquatic animals', and 'recycling'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'made a devastating effect' (should be 'had a devastating effect') and 'natural bags' (likely meaning 'reusable' or 'biodegradable' bags). To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to express your points with greater nuance and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally hinder the flow. For example, 'it makes very difficult for aquatic animals' is missing an object (it makes it very difficult), and 'government should aware' should be 'government should make people aware'. There are also issues with article usage, such as 'on environment' instead of 'on the environment'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they are frequent enough to keep the score in the 6.0 range.

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

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