Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-05

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)

In recent years, the utilization of plastic materials, especially in retail products has been increased globally. It offers cheap and reliable layer to protect the product, against heat, temperature and dust to transport, preserve and consume. However, there are lot of alarming consequences of the same which should not be neglected.

To begin with, if the disposable method not followed, it clogs the drainages and reduces the area of farmland. If an attempt is made to burn the plastic portion from the waste, it creates the harmful gas, which damages lungs and causes trouble breathing in a long term. Lastly, it affects the ocean wildlife too. For instance, many of the water creatures and fishes often get trapped and struggle to make movements. For example, a small initiative taken by McDonald's to replace their straws with paper based has appreciated by people and local governments in many parts of the world.

The government and citizens should come together to solve this problem, in order to preserve the environment for the current and next generation. Firstly, a direct ban on the production of plastic should be imposed. Campaigns should be organized in colleges and public events to make more and more people aware of this issue. In addition, people should be encouraged to carry their own reusable bags, whenever possible. Lastly, the disposal system of plastic products should be monitored constantly near the places, which are directly in contact with wildlife.

To conclude, there is no doubt that the invention of plastic has been proven as one of the most utilized material till date. Being waterproof has been one of its biggest strength. However, the authorities and people need to step forward, to reduce the use of plastic considering the consequences are worse to both health and environment.

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, such as the mention of clogged drainage and the impact on marine life. However, the development is somewhat uneven. For instance, the discussion on solutions is a bit generic and could benefit from more specific examples beyond the McDonald's straw reference. While the position is clear throughout, the depth of analysis is limited, which prevents it from reaching the higher bands. The response is well-structured in terms of task coverage, but the arguments would be more persuasive with further elaboration on the 'why' and 'how' of the proposed solutions.

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', 'In addition', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the environmental damage and the McDonald's example is a bit abrupt. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the essay maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'utilization', 'disposable', and 'reusable'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the disposable method not followed' (should be 'if proper disposal methods are not followed') and 'has appreciated by people' (should be 'has been appreciated'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to discuss the topic, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band 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 frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles, verb forms, and sentence construction. For example, 'has been increased' (passive voice error), 'creates the harmful gas' (article error), and 'consequences are worse to both health and environment' (preposition error). These errors are noticeable but do not significantly impede communication. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive versus active voice, as well as refining the use of articles.

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

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