Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-29

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 true that using plastic has negative effects on the environment. This essay will explain drawbacks associated with the using plastic in packaging , manufacturing bags and bottles and this problem can be reduced in large extent with the combined efforts of people as well as official authorities.

Plastic used in making bags, bottes and packing other things is significantly disadvantageous for the environment because of several reasons. One of the primary drawbacks is that it negatively affects aquatic animals. In explanation, it is really common to see plastic on the surface of water bodies and for example, aquatic animals can stuck in it and they can also eat this plastic which has a lot of chemicals used in manufacturing. Consequently, these chemicals will enter into their bodies and they cannot breathe properly. In fact, they could die. In addition to this, it is a non-biodegradable material means it takes several years to decompose in soil, so it remains in the soil for thousands of years. Thus, it decreases the soil fertility which hinders the growth of plants.

However, this issue could be solved if individuals and governments can take strict actions against using plastic. The main action is that governments should impose high taxes on companies which manufacture plastic as well as on those which are using plastic for packaging, making other things such bags and bottles. In case of individuals, they can use recyclable things rather than using plastic ones. For example, people can use paper bags or clothes bags instead of using plastic bags.

In conclusion, using plastic creates several problems such as taking several years to decompose and affecting aquatic animals; however, this problem can be solved if people and governments can work together. Individuals can use other alternative options and government can impose high tax on companies which are using 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 ideas are relevant and clearly presented. However, the development is somewhat basic; for instance, the explanation of how plastic affects aquatic animals is a bit repetitive, and the solutions could be more nuanced. While the position is clear throughout, the essay would benefit from more sophisticated examples or a deeper exploration of the consequences to reach a higher band. Overall, it is a solid response that fulfills the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem from the solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition to this', 'Consequently', and 'However' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, though the connection between the environmental impact and the proposed solutions could be more tightly integrated. Overall, the text is easy to follow and the structure is coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their ideas clearly. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'plastic', 'bags', and 'bottles'. While the student attempts some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'non-biodegradable', 'decompose', and 'soil fertility', the range is somewhat limited. There are minor errors in word choice, such as 'can stuck' instead of 'can get stuck' and 'reduced in large extent' instead of 'to a large extent'. Expanding the range of synonyms and collocations would improve the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the using plastic' (should be 'the use of plastic'), 'means it takes' (should be 'which means it takes'), and 'government can impose' (should be 'governments can impose'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some awkward phrasings that slightly hinder the flow. The student demonstrates a reasonable control of grammar, but the frequency of minor errors prevents a higher score.

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