Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-31

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)

Nowadays, the usage of plastic bags, plastic bottles, and plastic packaging has become a grave concern, demanding immediate consideration. Environmental degradation is rapidly becoming a commonly witnessed phenomenon. There are a number of causes, which can however, with the exercise of caution and close observation, can be checked.

To begin with, the primary effect of plastic material on the environment is that these things are considerably hard to dispose of. For example, if someone burns those bags, it will cause air pollution. If someone buries them in the land, it will cause soil pollution. Furthermore, if those products are sent to the factories for proper disposal, the fog from those factories will cause air pollution. Another way people are using them is to throw these things into the rivers, which is the biggest reason for water pollution.

There are several steps that need to be taken by governments and people to tackle this issue. The first and foremost step from the government is a ban on the use of these things. The government should encourage alternatives for carring the things, instead of plastic bags. For instance, a paper bag is a good replacement for plastic bags. Many countries already impose this law. I believe every country should have this law. Another compelling step that individuals can take is to stop using one-time bottles or any other materials. A good example of this is that individuals should use steel bottles and cloth bags so that they can use those things multiple times, rather than use them one time and incur extra cost for another time.

To conclude, it is evident that while governments have a crucial role to play in addressing this issue, individual responsibility is equally important. Only through concerted efforts at both institutional and personal levels can a long-term solution be achieved.

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 of these ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the discussion on 'fog from factories' is a bit vague and could have been more accurately described as industrial emissions or pollutants. The solutions provided are practical, but the explanation of why these solutions are effective could be more deeply explored to reach a higher band. Overall, the position is clear and the response 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 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'To conclude' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, there is some slight repetition in the way ideas are linked, and the flow between sentences could be smoother in the second paragraph. The referencing is generally clear, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. There is an attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'environmental degradation' and 'concerted efforts'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'carring the things' (carrying items) and 'one-time bottles' (single-use bottles). While the meaning is always clear, the lexical range does not consistently demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as the redundant structure in the first paragraph: 'There are a number of causes, which can however... can be checked.' Additionally, there are minor errors in article usage and word forms, such as 'the fog from those factories' instead of 'emissions'. Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The control of grammar is sufficient for a band 6, but more variety and fewer slips are needed for a higher score.

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