Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-31

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)

Across the globe, the use of plastic is rising rapidly which imposes severe darastic impact on the environment. Undoubtedly, the use of plastic is cost effective and far convenient than using any other alternatives which are expensive and not comparatively easy to handle and carry.

The foremost bad attribute of the plastic is it's non-biodegradable nature. Accordingly, it is not easy to get rid of the used-plastic unlike of those wooden cards which dicomposed in soil over a period of time. Further, in rural areas of under-developed countries, there is nil awareness among the masses regarding it's proper disposable. For instance, the plastic in the forms of empty bottles, bags has been dumped alongside the normal trash which turns out to be a poison for stary animals such as dogs, cows. These animals are at a high risk of digestive choking on the plastic. Similarly, burning of plastic leads to emission of harmful gasses in the atmosphere which deteriorates the air-quality. Breathing in affected air for a long period of time results in acquiring air-borne diseases such as asthma and other respiratory infections.

To eradicate this problem, the prominent role is of awaring the general public about it's devastating nature. For this purpose, each municipal authority should carry-out campaigns with more influence on the rural residential areas. Moreover, the state government should inculcate the habit among residents to collect the plastic waste separately. Considering the responsibility, the government should collect it on weekly basis. At a minor level, the plastic containers should be efficiently re-used used at homes instead of throwing out.

Overall, the plastic poses a serious threat to environment from every prospect. The intended initiatives from both the ruling authrorities and residents of the countruy are indispensable to protect the precious atmosphere and life's of creatures.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the question: it explains environmental harm through plastic’s persistence, risks to animals, and pollution from burning, then proposes action by authorities and individuals. The examples of animals swallowing plastic and respiratory illness make the impacts relevant. The proposed measures—public campaigns, separate collection, and reusing containers—also answer the solutions part. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: for example, the link between plastic waste and animal harm could be clarified, and the government’s collection proposal needs more detail about how it would reduce waste. The discussion is relevant and the main direction is clear, but development is uneven; fuller explanation and more specific support would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental damage, a paragraph on solutions, and a concluding summary. This makes the progression easy to follow, and signposts such as “For instance,” “Similarly,” and “Overall” help connect examples and main points. Some linking is less natural or precise, however. “Accordingly” does not clearly express the relationship between plastic’s non-biodegradability and disposal, while “At a minor level” is an unclear transition to individual action. The solutions paragraph would also be easier to follow if government responsibilities and personal actions were grouped and connected more explicitly. Overall organisation is coherent, but cohesion is occasionally mechanical or unclear rather than consistently smooth.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response attempts a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “non-biodegradable,” “emission,” “respiratory infections,” and “municipal authority.” These choices show an effort to discuss environmental effects and public measures precisely. However, noticeable spelling, word-form, and collocation problems reduce accuracy and sometimes make the meaning less natural: “darastic impact,” “proper disposable,” “awaring,” and “stary animals” are examples. Phrases such as “far convenient” and “poison for” also do not fit their intended meanings well. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main ideas, but control of less common expressions is inconsistent. Prioritise accurate, natural combinations and check spelling and word forms when revising.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including complex clauses such as “Breathing in affected air for a long period of time results in acquiring…” and the relative clause “which turns out to be…”. Most ideas remain understandable, but grammatical control is uneven, particularly in possessives, articles, agreement, and sentence construction. For example, “it's non-biodegradable nature” uses a contraction where a possessive is needed, and “the prominent role is of awaring the general public” is structurally awkward. The sentence beginning “Considering the responsibility” also has an unclear grammatical connection to the following clause. Review sentence patterns and proofread for these recurring errors; more consistently accurate complex sentences would improve clarity.

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