Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment. What can governments do to address these problems? What can individual people do?
Sample Response
Humans are responsible for a variety of environmental problems, but we can also take steps to reduce the damage we causethe damage that we are causing to the planet. This essay will discuss theseenvironmental problems and the measures that governments and individuals can take to address these problems.
Two of the biggest threats to the environment are air pollution and waste. Gas emissions from factories and exhaust fumes from vehicles lead to global warming, which may cause severe future harm to the planethave a devastating effect on the planet in the future. As the human population increases, we are also producing increasing quantities of wasteever greater quantities of waste, which contaminates the landearth and pollutes rivers and oceans.
Governments could certainly make greater effortsmake more effort to reduce air pollution. They could introduce laws to limit emissions from factories or to force companies to use renewable solar, wind, or hydropowerrenewable energy from solar, wind or water power. They could also impose ‘green taxes’ on drivers and airlinesairline companies. In this way, people would be encouraged to use public transport and to take fewer flights abroad, therebytherefore reducing emissions.
Individuals should also take responsibility for their impact on the environmentthe impact they have on the environment. They can take public transport rather than driving, choose products with minimalless packaging, and recycle as much as possible. Most supermarkets now provide reusable bags for shoppers as well as ‘banks’ for recycling glass, plastic and paper in their car parks. By reusing and recycling, we can help to reduce waste.
In conclusion, both national governments and individuals must play their part in looking after the environment.
Why this response received Band 9.0
The response is strongest in its direct, balanced coverage of environmental damage and practical action by both governments and individuals, supported by clear examples and highly controlled language. Its main limitation is that some supporting points, particularly the long-term effects of pollution and waste, remain briefly explained. The highest-priority improvement is to extend one or two causal explanations while preserving the essay's concise focus.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
All parts of the task are fully addressed with relevant, well-supported problems and solutions.
Develop one or two consequences in slightly greater depth to make the argument even more fully extended.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress seamlessly through clearly focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices used naturally and unobtrusively.
Maintain this precise paragraph sequencing while allowing slightly fuller development within the main body sections.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys environmental causes, consequences, and solutions with strong collocational control.
Introduce a little more precise language for the longer-term impacts of pollution and waste.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence structures is used accurately, flexibly, and with virtually complete control.
Sustain this accuracy when adding more complex causal or conditional detail to the supporting ideas.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment. What can governments do to address these problems? What can individual people do?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.