Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-07

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 5.5)

In today's era people knows that each and every things made from plastics such as bags, bottles and packaging are harmfull for the environment. Due to, exccesive use of plastic can create more pollution in the environment as well as it creates harmfull becteria in environment which can lead to a seviour decease. To prevent this issue authorities and people should take some steps like use alternative of plastic things as well as provide more information to individuals that how much harmfull is this. I will explain more in following paragraph with my justifiacation.

The most important damage happens to the environment by using plastic products is polution.

To explain this, it is very hard and time consuiming process to decompose plastic prodcuts and when people use and throw directly on ground it will take too much time and due this reason it creates pollution in environment. Moreover, plastic products creates becteria and it will creates bad decease which is harmfull for individuals. For example, as per the article of famous company it shows that in last 2 years more poolution and more health releated issues happend due to overuse of plastic.

Therfore, to solve this issue people should use alternatives such as paper begs or steal bottles or may be card board pacaginfg rather then using plastic products. To elaborate this, there are more other options are available such as paper bags and it is also easy to decompose. Apart from that, the government should take initiates like they can creates more campaning to decrease use of plastic things and they can create more awairness towards use of plastic products.

In conclusion, there are so many issues happens after using plastic products like pollusion in environment but we can reduse this by using alernatives like paper bags and provide more information to people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the question: you identify pollution and possible health effects as harms, and suggest alternatives such as paper bags and steel bottles, alongside government campaigns and public awareness. This gives the response a relevant central focus. However, the explanation of environmental damage is limited: the point about plastic taking a long time to decompose is relevant, but the claim that it creates harmful bacteria and disease is not clearly explained or supported. The example referring to an article is vague and does not provide a specific illustration. The proposed actions are also mostly listed rather than explained in terms of how they would reduce plastic waste. Develop each main idea with a clear explanation and a concrete example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for damage and solutions, and a conclusion. Basic signposting such as “Moreover,” “To solve this issue,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the broad direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear or repetitive. For example, the solutions paragraph repeats paper bags without developing a distinct point, while “Apart from that” introduces government campaigns without a clear link to the preceding explanation. Some connections are also difficult to follow, particularly the move from plastic decomposition to pollution and then to disease. Organise each paragraph around one main idea, explain it in sequence, and use referencing and linking phrases more precisely rather than relying on formulaic transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use a basic range of topic-related vocabulary, including “environment,” “pollution,” “decompose,” “alternatives,” and “awareness,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or misspelled choices make the writing less clear, such as “harmfull becteria,” “seviour decease,” and “more poolution.” Some combinations are also unnatural, including “take initiates” and “bad decease.” Repetition of “plastic products,” “use,” and “environment” further restricts variety. Build a more accurate set of environmental terms and check spelling and collocations carefully. For instance, describe plastic as “non-biodegradable” and refer to “health risks” only where the connection is clear and supportable.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a reason clause beginning “when people use and throw…” and a purpose clause with “to prevent this issue.” However, complex sentences are often faulty, and frequent errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction can make ideas difficult to follow. Examples include “people knows,” “each and every things… are,” “plastic products creates,” and “the government should take initiates like they can creates.” The opening fragment “Due to, excessive use…” also lacks a complete grammatical structure. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check singular/plural agreement and verb forms. Aim for accurate simple sentences before adding subordinate clauses.

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