Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

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 7.0)

Our surroundings have been widely disturbed by the increasing use of polyethylene. It not only pollutes the environment but also disturbs marine life. This essay will articulate these problems while shedding light on some solutions to alleviate them, such as using more paper bags and banning plastic from the market.

The first and foremost drawback of using plastic products is that it harms the environment. Air is becoming unbreathable because an uncountable amount of polyethylene is burnt every day. Delhi is the biggest example of a city facing air pollution due to excessive use of plastic bags and bottles.

Moreover, Many people throw plastic garbage into the seas to get rid of it. But unfortunately, it has become a great concern for animals living in the oceans. Many mammals are dying every year because they eat plastic, mistaking it for their food.

However, this damage can be reduced by taking a few realistic steps jointly by the public and governments. Firstly, People should start using paper or cloth bags for their everyday use, which will help to prevent the consumption of plastic to some extent. Although some products require strong packaging such as plastic, new sources of packaging should be invented to replace it. Furthermore, government bodies should permanently ban the use of plastic. In many countries, polyethylene is already banned and high amounts of fines are imposed if somebody uses it.

In conclusion, while plastic continues to pose a significant threat to the environment and ocean life, it is not inevitable. But if the public eliminates the use of products made of plastic and governments prohibit their use, this problem can be tackled.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task prompt. It clearly identifies the environmental damage caused by plastic, specifically discussing air pollution from burning polyethylene and the threat to marine life. Furthermore, it addresses the second part of the prompt by suggesting practical solutions for both governments and individuals, such as banning plastic and switching to paper or cloth bags. The position is clear throughout the essay, and the ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as referencing the city of Delhi and animals eating plastic. This performance aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are cohesively managed with a recognisable introduction, body paragraphs addressing distinct aspects of the prompt, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'However', and 'Firstly' are used to connect ideas, though some transitions like 'But unfortunately' at the beginning of a sentence are slightly informal. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the negative impacts from the solutions. The progression of thought is easy to follow, making this a solid Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision. Terms like 'polyethylene', 'alleviate', 'uncountable amount', and 'permanent ban' show an attempt to use less common lexical items with an awareness of topic-specific style. However, there are minor awkwardness issues, such as 'high amounts of fines' instead of 'heavy fines'. Spelling and word-choice errors are occasional and do not impede communication, fitting the Band 6 descriptors comfortably.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over structures such as conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although some products require strong packaging such as plastic, new sources of packaging should be invented...'). There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, such as 'Moreover, Many people...' with a misplaced capital letter, and 'People should start...' in lowercase following an ordinal marker. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and do not impede communication, placing the response securely in the Band 7 category.

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