Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-04

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)

We are fully aware that plastic items take time to decay in the environment and as such this cause severe nuisance to it. Measuring the extent to which plastic waste harm our environment is quite difficult but seeing all sorts of plastic made products being thrown everywhere is an eye sore.

Firstly, plastic bags thrown in our rivers and seas are dangerous to the aquatic life. Fish and mammals are at risk of being trapped in these bags at the perile of their lives.

Secondly, plastic wastes take time to perish and consequently this pollute the environment. Seeing plastic thrown everywhere is not pleasant and this might contribute to the proliferation of diseases.

The governments and individuals should cooperate together and take appropriate measures to eradicate the use of plastic items. One important measure is public sensitisation through advertising or mouth-to-mouth awareness. It could be suggested to prioritize using paper bags for instance instead of plastic ones.

The government should also come with more severe laws to stop people from throwing waste in every corner of the street. However, it would be appreciated if the state could provide sorted bins so that each family could classify their waste accordingly for destruction.

Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, plastic are being recycled for re-use. This is a good initiative to reduce the production of new one.

To conclude, appropriate measures should be proposed by the government to protect the environment that would be beneficial to human beings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the question: you identify risks to aquatic life and pollution, then suggest awareness campaigns, paper bags, stricter laws, sorted bins and recycling. The response is relevant, but the damage is explained only briefly. For example, animals becoming trapped is mentioned without explaining other consequences, such as ingestion of plastic or harm to habitats. The claim that plastic waste may spread disease is also not explained or supported. Your solutions are more numerous, but several remain general; explain how enforcement or recycling would reduce plastic pollution. The conclusion restates the need for action without summarising the main points. The response is four words below the required minimum, so ensure future answers meet the stated length and allow enough space to develop examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, two paragraphs on environmental damage, a paragraph of proposed measures, and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “To conclude” help readers follow the main stages. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and some links between claims are not fully explained. For instance, the move from plastic being unpleasant to its possible contribution to disease needs a clearer causal connection. The solutions paragraph also groups several different actions without showing how they relate or which are most effective. Use linking phrases to express cause, result and contrast, and develop each paragraph around a more clearly connected set of points.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “aquatic life,” “proliferation of diseases,” “sorted bins,” and “recycled for re-use.” These choices show an effort to discuss the issue beyond very basic terms, and the meaning is generally clear. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “severe nuisance to it,” “at the perile of their lives,” “plastic wastes,” and “come with more severe laws” do not express the intended ideas naturally. “Mouth-to-mouth awareness” is also unsuitable for public education in this context. Aim for precise environmental collocations and check word forms and spelling. More accurate phrasing would make your ideas sound clearer and more formal without requiring unusually advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and more complex forms, including the opening clause “that plastic items take time to decay” and the conditional construction “it would be appreciated if the state could provide sorted bins.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, and punctuation generally supports readability. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement and number: “this cause severe nuisance,” “plastic wastes … this pollute,” and “plastic are being recycled” need corrected subject–verb agreement or noun forms. There are also awkward sentence patterns, such as “Fish and mammals are at risk of being trapped in these bags at the perile of their lives.” Review agreement, singular and plural forms, and sentence construction, while continuing to use a range of clauses.

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