Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-08

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 the modern era, environment is drastically impacted by use of bags, bottels and packaging materials made from plastic. This is a concerning phenomenon and damage is irreversible. In this context, officials are required to set coear standards and procedures to tackle the problem. This essay will discuss the consequences of plastic use and how to prevent it from becoming a problem with possible solutions and reasoning.

Firstly, the use of plastic bags and packing materials is now becoming a nuisance on the beaches and riversides. For example, visitors who are having fun while drinking and eating at the waterfront are not willing to clean after themselves. In this condition, all the plastic waste is left behind and causing a loss of marine lives such as fishes and turtles. Moreover, plastic waste is not biodegradable because of the fact that it can stay in the soil for long periods and eventually become toxic to the ecosystem.

In addition, the authorities are trying to prevent the outcome of overuse of plastic products. The first and foremost step is to ban the use of bags which are made of polymeric materials. Secondly, strict regulations on the manufacture of these products should be enforced to reduce the over reliance on them. For example, use of reusable clothing bags and paper bags should be promoted in grocery stores and shopping centres.

In conclusion, pollution caused by plastic waste is a serious problem and it is required to be addressed promptly by the government. Otherwise, in the long run, negative environmental impacts will be more significant.

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 position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention that plastic is toxic to the ecosystem, you could expand on the specific chemical processes or long-term consequences to reach a higher band. Similarly, the solutions are relevant but could be more detailed; explaining how government regulations would be implemented or how individual behavior change can be incentivized would strengthen the response. Overall, the ideas are relevant, but they lack the depth required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to guide the reader through your arguments. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more sophisticated. For example, the transition between the environmental damage and the solutions could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be linked more fluidly to improve the overall flow. The structure is sufficient to follow your argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'biodegradable', 'polymeric materials', and 'ecosystem'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'bottels' and 'coear', which are minor but noticeable. You also rely on some repetitive phrasing, such as 'plastic waste' and 'plastic products'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'environment is drastically impacted' (missing article 'the') and 'in this condition' (which is slightly unnatural). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'is required to be addressed' which is passive and slightly clunky. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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