Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-23

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)

Nowadays, the use of plastic containers, bags and packaging has increased in the market. With easier handling and lesser breakability, plastics has been the go-to packaging for a lot of products. But don't we know the negative effect it has in our environment? This essay plan to expound and reflect the damage that use of plastic does and what can be done to solve this issue.

Use of plastic pose a great threat not only in our health but also for the other living things in our environment. Since plastic doesn't get rotten, it stays in our surroundings for may years. This cause the increase in garbage and trash that piles up in a lot of areas in our community and with trash lying around the corner for a long time, it poses threats on our respiratory and overall health. Not only to the people but also, marine animals has been a victim, too. A good example to this, is the plastic straw that was stucked in a turtoise nostrils. If ever it was not removed on time, who knows what will happen to the poor tortoise. Just imagine the pain of the clueless sea animal because of the carelessness of some people.

On the contrary, we can prevent these situations to happen again. Us, individuals can and should be more responsible in disposing the plastic containers and materials that we have been using. By reusing or recycling the plastic, we can prevent the pile up of trash that can eventually pollute our water system. Also, the government can help us through recycling projects. They can arrange to collect plastic containers, bags and packaging in the community by schedule and bring it to certain recycling centers. They can also lead a recycling project that aims to reuse and make a good use of plastics rather than to throw it after every after use.

With working together, I believe we can ease the negative effect of using plastics and help maintain the cleanliness and safety of our enviroment. Reusing of one plastic a day can lead us to safer, pollution free surroundings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the question and maintains a clear position: plastic harms people and wildlife, while cooperation between individuals and government can reduce the problem. The discussion of persistent waste and the example of a straw harming a sea turtle make the environmental damage relevant and concrete. The proposed actions—responsible disposal, reuse, recycling, and scheduled collection—also answer the solutions part. However, some points are less fully developed: the health effects are asserted rather than explained, and the government measures are mostly limited to collection and recycling. To strengthen the response, explain one or two impacts more precisely, such as how plastic pollution damages marine habitats, and show how a proposed measure would reduce that harm.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure, moving from an introduction to environmental damage, then solutions, and finally a conclusion. Paragraphing helps the reader follow the two main parts of the task, and links such as “Not only” and “Also” signal additions. The progression is generally logical, but some connections are mechanical or unclear. “On the contrary” suggests a contrast, although the paragraph introduces solutions rather than opposing the previous point; “In addition” or “To address this” would fit better. The opening rhetorical question and the conclusion’s repeated emphasis on reuse also create some repetition. Use clearer references between claims and examples, and make each paragraph develop its central point in a more deliberate sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate its main ideas, including “recycling centers,” “pollute our water system,” and “marine animals.” It also attempts more descriptive language, such as “poses a great threat” and “carelessness,” but control of word choice and collocation is uneven. Phrases such as “lesser breakability,” “doesn’t get rotten,” and “make a good use of plastics” sound unnatural or imprecise, while “garbage and trash” repeats the same idea. Spelling errors in “turtoise,” “stucked,” and “enviroment” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise environmental terms and check spelling; for example, describe plastic as “non-biodegradable” and say it “accumulates” rather than “piles up” when using a more formal register.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence forms, including subordinate clauses beginning with “Since” and “If,” and most ideas remain understandable. However, errors in agreement, verb forms, and sentence construction recur. For example, “plastics has been” should be “plastic has been” or “plastic products have been”; “Use of plastic pose” needs “poses”; and “This cause” needs “This causes.” The sentence “This essay plan to expound” also has an incorrect verb form, and “marine animals has been a victim” has a subject–verb agreement error. Some punctuation around introductory phrases and examples is also awkward. Review agreement and verb forms, then proofread each sentence; more consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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