Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-08

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 5.5)

Nowadays, plastic bags can have severe adverse effects on health as well as the environment. There can be many factors which causes intense damage, but this is the responsibility of governments to take strict action in order to solve the problem.

To begin with, plastic bags and all those equipment which possess plastics in it may harm or damage the ecosystem and wildlife. For example, many people through plastic wrappers and bottles in the ocean which may lead to harmful effects to sea creatures as well as to those who ingest it. As a result, many living organisms get affected because of these plastic things.

Moreover, it's not only the responsibility of citizen to maintain the environment. Also, the government should implement measures to mitigate detrimental effects on ecosystem, individuals and society. For instance, government should scrutinize regulatory bodies or hire someone to have a careful look on someone who throws plastics and garbage in an open environment. In addition, strict fine system should be implemented to those who threw waste like this. Therefore, in this manner we can create a safe environment, not only for the humans but also for other creatures.

In conclusion, plastics often cause harsh damage to the society and individuals. It can be maintained by preventive measures to control this situation. A holistic and pragmatic approach can help in reduction of plastic contamination. Furthermore, governments should carefully access and take stringent action against violence of act, so that ecosystem will certainly get better and no one has to suffer.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both parts of the question: you identify harm to wildlife and ecosystems, and suggest government enforcement and fines. The example of plastic entering the ocean gives the environmental damage some relevant support. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the effects are described generally, and the response does not explain other important forms of damage, such as plastic persisting in soil or breaking down into microplastics. The solutions focus mainly on monitoring and punishment; practical steps individuals could take, such as reusing bags or sorting waste, are not explained. Your opening also emphasises health, but this point is not developed. A clearer position and fuller explanation of both the damage and shared solutions would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate body paragraphs and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Moreover,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and some links do not clearly express the relationship between ideas. For example, “Moreover, it's not only the responsibility of citizen to maintain the environment. Also, the government…” repeats the contrast rather than developing it smoothly. The conclusion introduces “violence of act,” which is not clearly connected to the earlier discussion. Use clearer referencing and connect each proposed measure directly to the problem it addresses; this would make the overall flow more consistent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic-related vocabulary, including “ecosystem,” “wildlife,” “mitigate,” “detrimental effects,” and “plastic contamination.” These choices show an effort to use less common and formal language, and the main ideas remain understandable. Some expressions, however, are inaccurate or unnatural in context: “equipment which possess plastics in it,” “scrutinize regulatory bodies,” and “access and take stringent action against violence of act” do not convey the intended meaning precisely. There is also repetition of “plastic” and “environment” without much variation. Aim for accurate collocations and choose formal vocabulary only when it fits the meaning. More precise terms for waste, enforcement and environmental harm would improve clarity and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “those equipment which possess plastics in it” and a result clause beginning “so that.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain and occasionally make sentences difficult to follow. For example, “many factors which causes” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “many people through plastic wrappers” appears to use the wrong verb form. There are also issues with singular and plural forms in “responsibility of citizen” and “strict fine system,” and the final sentence has an unclear construction. Check agreement, articles and sentence structure, especially when building longer sentences. More consistently controlled complex sentences would strengthen accuracy.

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