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)

Beside terrorism, the pollutions are the immense threat to planet. Plastic is the root cause for land, water, and air pollution. There are alternatives but humans are irrersponsilbe so we are the big reasons for harming our land and health. I am calling everybody lazy here because it is not like we do not know the consequences of it. We certainly knows everything but then also we are just running blame game.

First of all we knows that plastic is non-biodegradable and it takes decades and centuries to break down rather than decaying naturally. Every product we use comes with the plastic packaging, Cars, toys, home appliances, etc are easily and cheaply manufactured in factories. Even for buying grocery we do not carry big basket and prefer polythene bags. Finally and collectively every plastic ends up in garbage piles.

There are private and government owned plants to recycle the used plastic into new products but they are not enough which can fail to stock up the mountains of plastic pollution.

Lack of proper management of plastic pollution is creating a layer of plastic on land where rain water failed to go inside the earth core, which is eventually ground waters are not refilling and recharging. Additionally plastic on land is highly affecting the agriculture yield which is decreasing our food production. Using plastic vessels, containers, glasses in our kitchen is causing micro plastics in our blood stream which is the big reason for cancer, cardiovascular and lungs diseases.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse are the four methods where we can control the plastic pollution. We have to adapt the ancient lifestyles so that we can be free from all the types of pollution and creates a healthy society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the question: you describe environmental and health effects, including plastic waste accumulating on land, impacts on agriculture, and possible harm from microplastics, then mention recycling and the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse” approach. However, the response only partially develops the solutions requested from governments and individuals. Recycling plants are mentioned, but there are few specific government actions, and individual measures are mostly stated as a slogan rather than explained. Some claims, such as plastic preventing groundwater recharge and causing serious diseases, need clearer explanation or support. To strengthen the response, distinguish the damage to land, water and wildlife, and give practical, supported actions for each group.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: an opening position, discussion of plastic use and waste, effects, and a concluding call to action. Paragraph breaks help separate these stages. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and links between ideas can feel abrupt. For example, the move from recycling plants to groundwater and agriculture is not signposted, while “First of all” is followed by several examples without a clear hierarchy. The conclusion introduces “ancient lifestyles” without explaining how this connects to the proposed solutions. Use topic sentences to identify each paragraph’s focus, and connect examples explicitly to the point they support. More precise referencing would also help readers follow what “it” and “they” refer to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “non-biodegradable,” “recycle,” “agriculture yield,” and “micro plastics,” and the main subject remains understandable. There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems that make some phrases awkward or unclear, such as “irrersponsilbe,” “the pollutions,” and “ground waters are not refilling and recharging.” Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, including “running blame game” and “big reasons.” Aim for accurate collocations and forms, and check spelling carefully. For instance, use “pollution” as an uncountable noun, and choose established phrases such as “groundwater levels” or “agricultural output” where they fit your meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both short statements and attempts at longer sentences, including clauses introduced by “where” and “which.” However, the range is limited, and errors recur in basic sentence patterns, agreement and verb forms. Examples include “we certainly knows,” “we do not carry big basket,” and “rain water failed to go inside the earth core.” The sentence beginning “Additionally plastic on land…” also has an unclear clause structure, making the relationship between the plastic and the effects difficult to follow. Practise checking subject–verb agreement, articles and plural forms, and divide long sentences when their clauses do not connect clearly. More accurate control of these patterns would make your ideas easier to understand.

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