Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-10

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 6.0)

It has been proved that plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are harmful for our environment as plastic waste is difficult to dispose and recycle. However, government can take intiatives such as enforcing strict regulations regarding plastic use and individuals can also avoid the use of plastic in their daily lives to save their environment.

To begin with, it has been known from years that plastic bags, bottles and packegings should not be disposed underground because plastic does not vanish. However, it gradually reduces the soil fertility. Therefore, landfill is not a right solution. Seconldy, plastic waste should not burn in the open air as it cause harmful gases emission in the environment which is injurious for our health. For example, BBC news has reported that people who breathe polluted air are more prone to lungs cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

The government could take some measures to reduce the harmful impact of plastic such as imposing bans on the manufacturing and trade of plastic bags, bottles and packaging. Additionally, proper education should be provided to the public about the severe affects of the plastic use on health. Lastly, households can also contribute their efforts by avoilding the use of plastic bags and containers at their homes. They can also discover new methods to recycle plastic waste. To illustrate, in many rural areas people use plastic bottles as flower pots.

In conclusion, it is true that plastic use poses significant challenges for our environment such as soil erosion and air pollution. However, these issues can be solved by formulating strict governmnet policies and educating individuals. People can also play a role in safeguarding their environment by avoiding the use of plastic and identifying new methods of recycling it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both questions: it identifies soil damage and air pollution, then proposes government restrictions, public education, and household reuse or recycling. The position is clear, especially in the conclusion, and the examples of plastic bottles used as flower pots and health effects from polluted air help make the discussion relevant. However, the environmental damage is explained more fully than the solutions, and some claims need clearer development: for instance, the link between plastic and “soil erosion” in the conclusion is not established in the body, which discusses reduced soil fertility instead. To strengthen the response, explain how each proposed measure would reduce plastic waste and develop the examples more precisely. The length requirement is met; eight words copied from the task prompt were not counted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental harm, a paragraph on possible responses, and a conclusion. Sequencing expressions such as “To begin with,” “Secondly,” “Additionally,” and “Lastly” make the progression easy to follow. The central ideas are generally connected, and the conclusion returns to the main points. However, the repeated use of explicit signposts can feel mechanical, and some links between claims could be clearer. For example, the discussion moves from plastic in landfill to soil fertility without explaining the process, while the conclusion introduces “soil erosion,” a point not developed earlier. Use fewer formulaic transitions and make the relationship between each cause, effect, and solution explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “soil fertility,” “harmful gases,” “imposing bans,” and “recycle plastic waste.” These choices allow the reader to understand the main environmental concerns and proposed actions. However, noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision, including “packegings,” “Seconldy,” “intiatives,” and “avoilding.” Some collocations are also awkward: “affects of the plastic use” and “discover new methods” do not express the intended ideas naturally. Aim for accurate, conventional phrasing and check spelling carefully. More precise terms such as “plastic pollution,” “degrade,” and “single-use plastics” would help you discuss the topic with greater flexibility without relying on repeated references to plastic use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “However” and a purpose clause in “to reduce the harmful impact of plastic.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the paragraph structure supports readability. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles, agreement, and verb forms. For example, “government can take” needs an article or plural subject, “as it cause” should have subject–verb agreement, and “should not burn” needs a passive form or an explicit subject. There are also awkward constructions such as “harmful for our environment” and “people who breathe polluted air are more prone to lungs cancer.” Review articles, agreement, and passive structures, then proofread each sentence for a complete and accurate grammatical pattern.

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