The topic of plastic pollution and its effects on ocean health has been a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Based on past exam trends and the growing global concern for environmental issues, it’s highly likely that this subject will continue to appear in future tests. Let’s examine a relevant question that has appeared in recent IELTS exams:
Some people say that the best way to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the oceans is to ban all single-use plastics. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
This question directly addresses the impact of ocean pollution on food chains and asks test-takers to consider a potential solution. Let’s analyze this question and provide sample essays for different band scores.
Question Analysis
The question is asking for your opinion on a proposed solution to reduce plastic waste in oceans. Key points to consider:
- The main issue: plastic waste in oceans
- Proposed solution: banning all single-use plastics
- Task: express your level of agreement or disagreement
- Scope: focus on the effectiveness of the proposed solution
Remember to clearly state your position, provide reasons and examples to support your view, and consider potential counterarguments.
Sample Essays
Band 8-9 Essay
Plastic pollution in our oceans has reached alarming levels, prompting many to advocate for drastic measures such as banning all single-use plastics. While I agree that this approach could significantly reduce plastic waste, I believe a more comprehensive strategy is necessary to effectively address this complex issue.
Banning single-use plastics would undoubtedly have a positive impact on ocean health. These items, such as disposable bags, straws, and food containers, constitute a large portion of marine debris and often end up in oceans due to improper disposal. By eliminating these products, we could dramatically reduce the volume of plastic entering our waterways. For instance, countries like Rwanda and Kenya have implemented nationwide bans on plastic bags, resulting in cleaner urban areas and reduced plastic pollution in rivers and lakes.
However, I contend that a complete ban alone is not sufficient to solve the problem entirely. Firstly, such a ban could lead to unintended consequences. For example, alternatives to single-use plastics, such as paper or biodegradable materials, may have their own environmental impacts if not managed properly. Additionally, certain industries, particularly medical and food safety sectors, rely heavily on single-use plastics for hygiene and contamination prevention.
A more effective approach would involve a multi-faceted strategy. This could include:
- Gradual phase-out of single-use plastics, prioritizing items with readily available alternatives.
- Investment in research and development of truly sustainable materials.
- Improved waste management systems and recycling infrastructure.
- Public education campaigns to promote responsible consumption and disposal habits.
- Incentives for businesses to adopt eco-friendly practices and packaging.
By implementing these measures alongside targeted restrictions on single-use plastics, we can address the root causes of ocean pollution more comprehensively. For example, countries like Germany have successfully reduced plastic waste through a combination of regulations, deposit-return schemes, and public awareness initiatives.
In conclusion, while banning all single-use plastics could significantly reduce ocean pollution, I believe a more nuanced and multi-faceted approach is necessary to effectively tackle this global issue. By combining restrictions with improved infrastructure, education, and innovation, we can create lasting change and protect our marine ecosystems for future generations.
(Word count: 345)
Band 6-7 Essay
Plastic pollution in oceans is a serious problem, and some people think banning all single-use plastics is the best solution. I partly agree with this idea, but I also think there are other important things we need to do.
Banning single-use plastics could help reduce ocean pollution a lot. Many plastic items like bags, straws, and food containers often end up in the sea. If we stop using these, there will be less plastic waste in the oceans. For example, some countries have banned plastic bags, and their beaches and waters are cleaner now.
However, I don’t think banning all single-use plastics is enough to solve the whole problem. There are some reasons why this might not work perfectly:
- Some industries, like hospitals, need single-use plastics for safety reasons.
- People might use other materials instead, which could cause different environmental problems.
- It might be hard to enforce a complete ban in all countries.
I believe we need to do more than just ban single-use plastics. We should also:
- Improve recycling systems so more plastic can be reused
- Teach people about the dangers of plastic pollution and how to reduce waste
- Encourage companies to use less plastic packaging
- Clean up the plastic that’s already in the oceans
For instance, some cities have started education programs about recycling, and this has helped reduce the amount of plastic waste they produce.
In conclusion, while banning single-use plastics is a good idea, I think we need to do more than just this to really solve the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans. We need a plan that includes bans, better recycling, education, and cleaning up existing pollution.
(Word count: 282)
Band 5-6 Essay
Plastic pollution in the oceans is a big problem today. Some people say we should ban all single-use plastics to solve this. I agree with this idea, but I also think there are other things we can do.
Banning single-use plastics is a good idea because:
- It will reduce the amount of plastic that goes into the ocean
- It will make people use other materials that are better for the environment
- It will help save sea animals that get hurt by plastic
For example, when some countries banned plastic bags, they saw less plastic on their beaches.
But banning all single-use plastics might be difficult because:
- Some things, like medical supplies, need to use plastic
- People might not like the change at first
- It might be hard to find good alternatives for all plastic items
I think we should ban single-use plastics, but we should also do other things:
- Teach people about plastic pollution
- Make better recycling systems
- Clean up the plastic that’s already in the oceans
- Ask companies to use less plastic packaging
In my country, schools teach children about recycling, and this helps reduce plastic waste.
In conclusion, I agree that banning single-use plastics can help reduce ocean pollution, but we need to do more than just this. We need to educate people and find other ways to solve this problem too.
(Word count: 223)
Essay Analysis
Band 8-9 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates excellence in all four marking criteria:
Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with a well-developed response. It considers multiple aspects of the issue and provides relevant examples.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear progression throughout. It uses a variety of cohesive devices effectively and presents a clear central topic in each paragraph.
Lexical Resource: The essay uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. It demonstrates an awareness of style and collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. It contains a variety of complex structures used naturally.
Band 6-7 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates competence in all four marking criteria, but with some limitations:
Task Achievement: The essay addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be further developed with more specific examples.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized, but some paragraphs could be more fully developed. It uses some cohesive devices, but not always with complete accuracy.
Lexical Resource: The essay uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, but with some inaccuracy in word choice or collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There are some errors, but they do not impede communication.
Band 5-6 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates a modest attempt at addressing the task:
Task Achievement: The essay addresses the task, but the development of ideas is limited. The position is clear but not always well-supported.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a basic organizational structure, but cohesion between and within paragraphs is limited.
Lexical Resource: The essay uses a limited range of vocabulary. Some attempts at less common vocabulary are made, but with noticeable errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses mainly simple sentences with limited accuracy. Errors are frequent but do not greatly impede communication.
Various strategies to reduce plastic pollution
Key Vocabulary
- Marine debris (noun) /məˈriːn ˈdebrɪs/ – waste material that ends up in the ocean
- Disposable (adjective) /dɪˈspəʊzəbl/ – designed to be thrown away after use
- Biodegradable (adjective) /ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/ – capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms
- Phase-out (noun) /feɪz aʊt/ – the gradual discontinuation of a process or product
- Eco-friendly (adjective) /ˈiːkəʊ ˈfrendli/ – not harmful to the environment
- Deposit-return scheme (noun) /dɪˈpɒzɪt rɪˈtɜːn skiːm/ – a system where consumers pay a small fee when buying a product, which is refunded when they return the container for recycling
- Nuanced (adjective) /ˈnjuːɑːnst/ – characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression
- Multi-faceted (adjective) /ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd/ – having many different aspects or features
- Contamination (noun) /kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn/ – the action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning
- Ecosystem (noun) /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ – a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
In conclusion, the issue of plastic pollution in oceans is a critical topic that is likely to appear in future IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related themes such as should single-use plastics be prohibited globally or should the use of plastic packaging be banned worldwide. Remember to analyze the question carefully, plan your response, and use a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures to showcase your language skills.
To further improve your skills, try writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This practice will help you refine your writing abilities and prepare you for success in the IELTS Writing Task 2.