Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-22

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 6.5)

Things made of plastic, namely bags, bottles and packagings are deterimental for the environment. Plastic leads to the major issue of air pollution; whereas, governments can apply some restrictions on the plastic utilization and people can neglect to buy stuff that contains it.

The most prominent damage that plastic do to the surrounding is air pollution. The plastic is non-degradable material, and the only solution to get rid of this is burning it. While destroying the plastic with fire, it produces heavy black smoke containing toxic gases into the air that harms humans and animals. In addition to this, this harmful smoke develops many lung diseases among people, such as hard breathing and cough. As a result, plastic detriorate the air which is exacravate health issues.

However, government can assist to mitigate the issue by implementing strict rules against the production of plastic products. Officals can restrict the usage of plastic to manufacturing bottles, bags, utensils and packaging, and put heavy fines to the companies who violate the regulations. Furthermore, individuals can also play a pivotal role on their own level by avoiding purchases that contain plastic in it. For example, people can prevent the environment by buying items that are made of steel, fabric and glass, for containers, bags and cutlary, respectively. Consequently, nature can be preserved by using other re-usable materials.

In conclusion, although the usage of plastic has been increased, which is effecting negatively to the surroundings by spreading air pollution, administators and residents can take measurable steps by enforcing strict laws and avoiding to buy plastic belongings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both parts of the prompt: you identify air pollution and health effects as environmental damage, then suggest government restrictions and individual choices. The examples of replacing plastic with steel, fabric and glass make the proposed actions more concrete. However, the discussion of damage is narrower and less developed than the solutions: the essay focuses almost entirely on smoke from burning plastic, without explaining other effects such as harm to wildlife or the persistence of plastic waste in land and water. The claim that burning is “the only solution” also needs qualification or support. To strengthen the response, explain the consequences of plastic waste more fully and develop each main point with a clear reason or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental damage, a paragraph on solutions, and a conclusion. The progression from the problem to government and individual action is easy to follow, and signposts such as “In addition to this,” “However,” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. Some linking is a little mechanical, and the opening sentence of the first body paragraph repeats the introduction’s focus on air pollution rather than advancing the explanation. The conclusion also restates the main points without adding much synthesis. For stronger cohesion, use references and transitions that show cause and effect more precisely, and make each paragraph develop a distinct step in the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “toxic gases,” “strict rules,” “regulations,” and “re-usable materials,” and the intended meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at less common or formal expressions, such as “pivotal role” and “mitigate,” though some choices are inaccurate or unnatural. Examples include “packagings,” “plastic utilization,” “prevent the environment,” and “plastic belongings”; these weaken precision. Several spelling errors, including “deterimental,” “detriorate,” and “exacravate,” also affect the overall control of vocabulary. Aim for natural collocations such as “plastic packaging,” “reduce plastic use,” and “protect the environment,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a subordinate clause beginning “While destroying the plastic with fire” and a contrast introduced by “although.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “the major damage that plastic do” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “the only solution to get rid of this is burning it” has an unclear reference and awkward structure. In “people can prevent the environment by buying items,” the verb pattern does not express the intended meaning. There are also issues with articles and number, as in “government can assist” and “strict rules.” Review agreement, article use, and sentence construction, while continuing to use varied structures.

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