Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-01

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)

People nowadays are using more and more plastic materials like bags, bottles and plastic packaging which is hazardous for the environment. Plastic is a non-biodegradable material which is a threat to all the species on the planet. However, this problem could be mitigated if governments apply strict rules and make aware people about the circumstances.

To begin with, humans are responsible why pollution is on its peak these days. People are throwing the plastic waste like bags, bottles and cups everywhere. Plastic ended up on the earth than becomes threat for birds and animals as they eat it. Moreover, many people throw plastic waste in the oceans. As a result, it affects the re-productive systems of animals underwater and can even be the reason for extinction to many species. Many industries are making plastic products and burns a lot of plastic that goes in the air which pollutes the environment.

On the other hand, there are some factors which could solve these issues. Governments should operate a proper waste management system which collects all the trash from the city people on a regular basis which then goes to the recycling process. Furthermore, governments should apply strict rules and heavy fines on throwing plastic materials on ground or public places. Government could also arrange awareness campaigns to inform people about plastic causes and ways on how to deal with it. Afterall, it is our responsibility to take care of this planet and it would be easier if people would have knowledge about the circumstances.

In conclusion, it is true that plastic is dangerous for all the species and many people are creating pollution on the environment. However, if governments could implement strict regulations, penalties and awareness campaigns, this issue could be resolved.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the environmental damage caused by plastic and the potential solutions from governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant, such as the impact on marine life and the need for waste management systems. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For example, the mention of 'industries' burning plastic is a good point, but it lacks specific detail or elaboration. The position is clear throughout, but the arguments could be extended further to reach a higher band. The response covers all requirements of the task well, though it remains at a general level of discussion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the problem to the solutions. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand', although some transitions feel a bit mechanical. There are minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the sentence 'Plastic ended up on the earth than becomes threat', which disrupts the logical flow. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the structure supports the reader's understanding.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate ideas clearly. There is some use of topic-specific vocabulary like 'non-biodegradable', 'waste management', and 'extinction'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'make aware people' instead of 'raise awareness among people' and 're-productive systems' (which is hyphenated unnecessarily). The student relies on fairly common vocabulary, and there is little evidence of more sophisticated or precise lexical items that would elevate the score to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'humans are responsible why pollution is on its peak' (incorrect clause structure), 'Plastic ended up on the earth than becomes threat' (incorrect tense and article usage), and 'burns a lot of plastic that goes in the air' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is generally functional, but the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band, as the control over complex structures is inconsistent.

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

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