Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-06

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)

Plastic bags, bottles and packing materials have various harmful effects on the environment. Although plastic can cause serious damage to the surroundings, it can be addressed by taking serious measures by authorities and individuals.

To begin with, there are several detrimental effects of using plastic. Firstly, plastic is cost-efficient, so it is used mainly in packaging of goods and so on, but the side effect is that it is a non-biodegradable material. Therefore, people tend to burn it to get rid of it, and burning it emits very harmful gases, which can contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and serious health problems. Moreover, plastic is dangerous to wildlife as well as human beings because plastic breaks down into tiny particles such as microplastics, which can enter the food chain and can cause serious health issues.

Governments and individuals can take several measures to address this issue. First and foremost, authorities should completely ban the use of plastic, and not only that, they can impose heavy taxes on the people who are still using or selling it. For example, certain nations have completely banned the use of plastic, and other countries should also take certain actions to control its use. Furthermore, individuals should also contribute by using tote bags or paper bags. For instance, if a shopkeeper is giving the products in plastic bags or plastic packaging, they can refuse to take them.

To conclude, there are serious repercussions of using plastic on society and the environment as a whole. It can be controlled by taking small steps, not only by higher authorities but also by local people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the environmental damage caused by plastic and potential solutions involving governments and individuals. The position is clear throughout the essay. However, some ideas are slightly under-developed or touch upon generalities rather than deep extension. For instance, the mention of burning plastic emitting harmful gases is relevant, but the consequences could be elaborated further to fully reflect a higher band. Similarly, the government solutions mention bans and taxes, and while examples are provided, they remain somewhat broad. To reach the next level, the ideas would need more thorough expansion and detailed supporting evidence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

There is a clear logical organization and progression throughout the essay, demonstrating a coherent overall arrangement. The writer makes good use of paragraphing, with each paragraph having a distinct focus ranging from introduction, environmental damage, solutions, to a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably flexibly, such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'First and foremost', which guide the reader smoothly through the argument. While the referencing is generally clear and the progression makes sense, slightly more varied or subtle transitional phrases would elevate the cohesion further and avoid any mechanical feel.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used provides an adequate range for the task, allowing the writer to communicate ideas effectively. There are successful attempts at less common lexical items, such as 'non-biodegradable', 'depletion of the ozone layer', and 'microplastics'. However, occasional inaccuracies in word choice or phrasing appear, such as writing 'packing materials' instead of 'packaging materials', or describing plastic as 'cost-efficient' when 'inexpensive' or 'cost-effective' might fit better in context. Spelling and word choice errors do not impede communication, but to achieve a higher band, a wider and more precise range of vocabulary with more natural collocations would be required.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over grammatical structures. Frequent error-free sentences are achieved, such as conditional structures ('if a shopkeeper is giving...') and relative clauses. Grammar and punctuation are generally well handled, and minor errors—such as preposition usage or slight awkwardness in passive constructions—rarely impede communication. To secure a higher band, the writer would need to employ a wider variety of sophisticated, complex structures consistently while maintaining a higher proportion of error-free sentences across the entire text.

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