Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-02

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 5.0)

In recent years Plastic waste are harmful for the surroundings area has become a major concern on many parts of the world. This essay will discuss the primary causes of this issue and propose possible solutions to overcome it.

One major cause of this problem is it affect to our lungs and damage it. As a result it cause lots of issue for the environment such as pollution would increase due to this problem. Another significant factor is plastic packaging can harm the products which is related to food and it damage the quality of food if it stays for a long time. For example; Now a days plastic container can cause cancer to human being and due to this problem people are losing there life.

Nevertheless several measures can be taken to address this problem. Firstly, they can start the project of not using plastic in daily life and save the environment by developing recycling process for plastic usage. Secondly, governments & individuals should start workshops for people to spread awareness regarding plastic and they can introduce some alternative option such as cloth bags or the paper bags in their daily usage.

In conclusion, although plastic is not good for health is caused by multiple factors, it can be controlled through effective policies and public awareness by not using plastic in their day to day life. Instead of this they can start using alternative options so they can prevent the damage happening to the environment. Thereafter, plastic waste should create this problems to our surroundings and result in bad outcome and create natural disaster.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions. However, the development of ideas is limited and sometimes unclear. For example, the claim that plastic affects lungs is not explained or supported with relevant environmental context. The solutions provided, such as 'start the project of not using plastic', are vague and lack practical detail. The essay tends to over-generalize, and the connection between the points made and the actual environmental impact of plastic is often tenuous. To improve, you should focus on providing specific, logical examples, such as the impact of microplastics on marine life or the persistence of plastic in landfills.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Nevertheless' and 'Firstly', their usage is sometimes mechanical or inappropriate for the context. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the conclusion and the preceding arguments is weak. The flow between sentences is frequently interrupted by grammatical errors, which makes the overall logical progression feel somewhat forced rather than natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary range is limited and often repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'problem', 'issue', and 'bad', which restricts your ability to express complex ideas precisely. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'surroundings area' instead of 'environment' and 'losing there life' (a spelling error). While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of variety and the frequent errors in word formation prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. You should aim to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to environmental science and sustainability.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'Plastic waste are harmful' and 'it affect to our lungs'. Punctuation is also problematic, particularly the misuse of semicolons and commas. While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. The majority of the sentences contain errors, and the control over basic grammar is inconsistent. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, correct verb tense usage, and ensuring that your sentences are grammatically complete.

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