Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-15

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 recent times, consumers have increasingly chosen inexpensive plastic items over environmental friendly options such as glass containers, reusable wraps and sustainable bees wax wraps. There are lot of negative effects on environment due usage of plastic. However, there are steps can be taken by government to get control on environmental damage that I will going to explain in more detail in upcoming paragraph.

To begin with, the most known and common negative impact on environment is various pollution that includes land, water and air pollution. To explain, Most of the used plastic products such as plastic kitchen wraps, cold-drink bottles and plastic grocery bags are discard into the deep sea to dispose that later release toxic chemicals or eaten by marine creatures that consumed by humans and also pollute the water body. Additionally, land also polluted through plastic items that dumps into the empty land fills. For example, the international journal 2025, statistical study says that 95% of plastic waste is responsible for major environmental damages.

However, on the other hand, there are some solutions also exist for that taken by government. The first and foremost step is usage of biodegradable alternatives instead of plastic items. To implement of solution, includes Biodegradable options such as wax bees wrap for kitchen, steel and glass bottles and cotton carry bags for grocery. These such alternatives will control the overall use of plastic all over the world. Many counties started implement in their nations for saving the environment. For instance, Japan ban the plastic and encourage people to use biodegradable alternatives instead since a two decades.

In Conclusion, usage of plastic only has harmful effects, those are land, water and air pollution in discard. Plastic is not only damaging the environment but also it has negative effects on human life. In a way of eating sea foods. There are some steps could be taken by government through enhance alternative options and encourage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both parts of the question: you identify pollution as a consequence of plastic and propose biodegradable alternatives, including reusable wraps, bottles and bags. The explanation that marine animals may consume plastic, with possible effects on people who eat seafood, is relevant. However, the damage is not fully explained: air pollution is named but not described, and the claim about landfill pollution remains general. The proposed response focuses mainly on alternatives and government action; the question also asks what individuals can do, but their role is not clearly developed. The Japan example is difficult to assess because the claim is broad and unsupported. Develop each point with a clear explanation and a specific, credible example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental damage, a paragraph on solutions and a conclusion. Signposting such as “To begin with,” “Additionally” and “In Conclusion” helps readers follow the main sections. However, some links are mechanical or confusing. “However, on the other hand” repeats the contrast, while “For example” introduces a statistic without explaining how it supports the preceding point. The conclusion also shifts abruptly to human health and ends with an incomplete-sounding proposal. Use clearer links between cause, effect and solution, and make sure each paragraph develops one connected line of reasoning before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “biodegradable alternatives,” “toxic chemicals,” “marine creatures” and “environmental damage.” These terms help communicate the subject, and the examples of glass, steel and cotton products add useful specificity. There are, however, several inaccurate or unnatural choices that reduce precision, such as “environmental friendly,” “get control on environmental damage,” “empty land fills” and “wax bees wrap.” Some word forms and collocations also need attention, including “various pollution” and “plastic items that dumps.” Aim for natural combinations and accurate forms, and avoid broad claims such as “95% of plastic waste” unless the statistic is clearly sourced and relevant.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “products … that are discard” and a conditional-style explanation of what plastic waste may do. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “there are steps can be taken” needs a relative structure, and “Japan ban the plastic” has an incorrect verb form. The final sentence, “There are some steps could be taken …,” is also incomplete in its construction. Practise building accurate clauses first, then combine them; check subject–verb agreement, tense and articles when editing.

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