Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28
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)
Plastic has become an integral part of modern life, but its widespread use has caused serious environment problems.I will discuss the some of the factors of this cause a long with the measures that can be taken by the public authorities.
One of the main concern is that it is affecting the lands and it causes the pollution. plastic waste takes longer to decompose. Moreover it can reduce the quality of the soil by producing harmful chemicals in it.Along with that, it also harms the marine life due to mismanaged waste.For instance, the marine animals such as fishes and shellfish can get stuck in them and they can also swallow the microplastics results in serious health problems.Therefore, these pollution's are severely affected by the plastic wastage.
To address this issue, the higher authorities should take some steps to prevent this issue by introducing the stricter regulations on single use plastic system.Furthermore, they can invest in better recycling system. As well as, individuals have some responsibilities regarding the society for example public can switch to the reusable bags instead of the plastic bags to contribute In well being of the environment.
To put this in a nutshell, environmental damages are caused by people and they can get improved by the joint efforts between governments and individuals so this obstacle can be defectively tackled.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| 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 essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. For instance, the mention of 'harmful chemicals' and 'marine life' is brief and lacks specific, well-explained examples. The position is clear, but the brevity prevents a fully developed response. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations and specific examples to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'For instance', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'As well as, individuals have some responsibilities'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Therefore, these pollution's are severely affected by the plastic wastage', where the noun 'pollution's' does not logically follow the previous points. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that cohesive devices are used more naturally would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'bad', 'serious', and 'steps'. There are also some errors in word choice and form, such as 'these pollution's' and 'defectively tackled' (which is likely a misuse of 'effectively'). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to environmental issues, such as 'non-biodegradable', 'ecosystem', 'mitigation strategies', or 'sustainable alternatives'. Focusing on accurate collocations will also help improve your lexical precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include 'I will discuss the some of the factors of this cause a long with', 'One of the main concern is', and 'results in serious health problems' (should be 'resulting in'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods in the first paragraph. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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