This is the IELTS Writing Task 2 from March 3rd on the topic of banning plastic bags.
It’s a topical issue because cities and nations all around the world have been enacting laws related to this in recent years.
Read on for a sample answer from a former examiner, analysis, vocabulary practice and some handwritten notes!
For more, check out our other sample answers here: IELTS Sample Answers.
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Dave
Sample Answer
Plastic shopping bags are used widely and cause many environmental problems. Some people say they should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
No one would deny that the plastic bags used in supermarkets and shops have a negative effect on the environment because they do not degrade and end up as litter in our cities or oceans. However, the replacements for plastic bags also carry significant environmental risks. That is why I think plastic bags should not be banned.
The main environmental side effect related to plastic bags is that they pollute both the land and water. An insignificant percentage of people may reuse or recycle plastic bags, but most ultimately litter or throw them in the trash. If they are thrown in the trash, plastic bags will wind up in the ever-increasing number of landfills and contribute to soil pollution. The ones that are simply tossed in the street clog drains in cities and eventually find their way to the sea and entangle marine life. This is why many feel that plastic bags should be banned.
Despite the advantages of banning plastic bags, the solutions for plastic bags are worse than the original problem. Most people who advocate banning plastic bags suggest paper bags (which are biodegradable) or reusable bags that are typically made from cotton or plastic. Both of these replacements are flawed. Paper bags require us to continue clearing forests and also carry a large carbon footprint. Reusable bags are plagued by similar problems. Independent studies have shown that the production of cotton and reusable plastic causes more harm to the environment than disposable plastic bags. Coupled with the fact that reusable bags are more difficult to recycle, their overall effect on the environment is worse.
I do not think overly simplistic restrictions on plastic bags would have the desired positive effect. Rather than thoughtlessly banning them, policy makers should come up with a policy that balances the materials we use for bags in order to produce an overall positive impact on the environment.
Sample Answer Analysis
1. No one would deny that the plastic bags used in supermarkets and shops have a negative effect on the environment because they do not degrade and end up as litter in our cities or oceans. 2. However, the replacements for plastic bags also carry significant environmental risks. 3. That is why I think plastic bags should not be banned.
1. The first sentence simply restates what the general topic is – banning plastic bags. It also includes my main idea for why they should be banned.
2. The second sentence gives the other main idea – why they should not be banned.
3. The third sentence is my opinion – they should not be banned.
1. The main environmental side effect related to plastic bags is that they pollute both the land and water. 2. An insignificant percentage of people may reuse or recycle plastic bags, but most ultimately litter or throw them in the trash. 3. If they are thrown in the trash, plastic bags will wind up in the ever-increasing number of landfills and contribute to soil pollution. 4. The ones that are simply tossed in the street clog drains in cities and eventually find their way to the sea and entangle marine life. 5. This is why many feel that plastic bags should be banned.
1. The first sentence is a topic sentence that includes my main idea for the whole paragraph (the main problem is pollution for land and water).
2. The second sentence explains my main idea by saying that most plastic bags are either littered or thrown in the trash.
3. The third sentence explains what happens when they are thrown in the trash and the impact on land.
4. The fourth sentence explains the second problem – that the bags that are littered end up in the ocean.
5. The fifth sentence summarizes that these are the reasons plastic bags should be banned.
1. Despite the advantages of banning plastic bags, the solutions for plastic bags are worse than the original problem. 2. Most people who advocate banning plastic bags suggest paper bags (which are biodegradable) or reusable bags that are typically made from cotton or plastic. 3. Both of these replacements are flawed. 4. Paper bags require us to continue clearing forests and also carry a large carbon footprint. 5. Reusable bags are plagued by similar problems. 6. Independent studies have shown that the production of cotton and reusable plastic causes more harm to the environment than disposable plastic bags. 7. Coupled with the fact that reusable bags are more difficult to recycle, their overall effect on the environment is worse.
1. The first sentence is a topic sentence that includes my main idea for the whole paragraph (replacing plastic bags is worse than having them).
2. The second sentence explains my opinion by saying that advocates of banning plastic bags usually recommend paper or reusable cotton bags.
3. The third sentence supports my opinion by saying that both solutions are flawed.
4. The fourth sentence supports my main idea by explaining that paper bags also have a negative environmental impact.
5. The fifth sentence shifts to why reusable bags are also not a good solution.
6. The sixth sentence adds that reusable bags are more difficult to recycle and this makes them worse than single-use plastic bags.
7. State the overall impact to finish the paragraph.
1. I do not think overly simplistic restrictions on plastic bags would have the desired positive effect. 2. Rather than thoughtlessly banning them, policy makers should come up with a policy that balances the materials we use for bags in order to produce an overall positive impact on the environment.
1. The first sentence restates the main ideas from the sample answer as well as my overall opinion. Make sure you have an overall opinion because the question directly asks you whether or not you agree than plastic bags should be banned.
2. The second sentence adds an extra detail (saying that governments should focus on a more balanced policy rather than a ban) that is needed to get above a Band 7 for Task Achievement according to some, but not all, examiners.
Vocabulary Analysis and Practice
I have highlighted some of the key vocabulary from the sample answer.
Before looking at the definition let’s do some practice!
Answer the following questions about everything in bold:
1. Is it a noun/verb/adjective/adverb? Is it a collocation? A noun-verb collocation? Or verb-noun?
2. What does it mean?
3. Can you think of a synonym?
No one would deny that the plastic bags used in supermarkets and shops have a negative effect on the environment because they do not degrade and end up as litter in our cities or oceans. However, the replacements for plastic bags also carry significant environmental risks. That is why I think plastic bags should not be banned.
The main environmental side effect related to plastic bags is that they pollute both the land and water. An insignificant percentage of people may reuse or recycle plastic bags, but most ultimately litter or throw them in the trash. If they are thrown in the trash, plastic bags will wind up in the ever-increasing number of landfills and contribute to soil pollution. The ones that are simply tossed in the street clog drains in cities and eventually find their way to the sea and entangle marine life. This is why many feel that plastic bags should be banned.
Despite the advantages of banning plastic bags, the solutions for plastic bags are worse than the original problem. Most people who advocate banning plastic bags suggest paper bags (which are biodegradable) or reusable bags that are typically made from cotton or plastic. Both of these replacements are flawed. Paper bags require us to continue clearing forests and also carry a large carbon footprint. Reusable bags are plagued by similar problems. Independent studies have shown that the production of cotton and reusable plastic causes more harm to the environment than disposable plastic bags. Coupled with the fact that reusable bags are more difficult to recycle, their overall effect on the environment is worse.
I do not think overly simplistic restrictions on plastic bags would have the desired positive effect. Rather than thoughtlessly banning them, policy makers should come up with a policy that balances the materials we use for bags in order to produce an overall positive impact on the environment.
Vocabulary Definitions
negative effect (n): causes something bad to happen
degrade (v): something can fall apart, materials like paper and foods can decay
end up (phrasal verb): winds end or finally becomes
litter (n/v): trash that we throw on the street rather than in bins
significant environmental risks (n): big potential problems for the environment
side effect (n): impact or effect that is not intended but happens anyway
insignificant percentage (n): small %
reuse (v): can be used again and again
wind up (phrasal verb): ends up or finally becomes
ever-increasing (adj): continues to increase all the time
landfills (n): big holes in the ground where trash is stored
contribute to (v): adds to or helps make up
clog drains (v): block drains where water flows when it rains
entangle (v): get stuck
original problem (n): the problem from the beginning
advocate (v): support or suggest
biodegradable (adj): fancier way of saying degradable
reusable bags (n): bags that can be used more than once
typically (adv): usually or normally
flawed (adj): not perfect, has mistakes or drawbacks
clearing forests (v): cutting down forests
carbon footprint (n): the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
plagued (v): cause trouble to or upset by
independent studies (n): research conducted by outside groups
coupled (v): combined
overall effect (n): the total impact
overly simplistic (adj): too simple
thoughtlessly (adv): without a thought
policy makers (n): the people who make laws, members of government
come up with (phrasal verb): create or imagine
balances (v): to make something equal
produce (v): create or make
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Plastic Bag Articles
Taiwanese Ban on Plastic Bags
Kyoto Protocols Failures
Pros and Cons of Plastic Bags
Why You Should Love Plastic Bags
Beautiful Plastic Bags
Do Plastic Bag Bans Work?
Plastic Bag Videos
MAN
The Impact of Plastic Bags
Should Plastic Bags be Banned?
Example Notes
Here are some notes I made about plastic bags (check out more on our Instagram page)!
Now it’s Your Turn! Comment below on our IELTS Sample Answer:
Do you think plastic bags should be banned? Or should we start using more of them?
Dear dave,
You forgot to analyse the 7th sentence in second body paragraph.
7. Coupled with the fact that…
Thank you!
I got ideas for my essay. Thank you
You’re very welcome!
Thn
Thank you
Thanks
You’re welcome!
Hi Dave,
I am a bit confused about this type of question.
I read the blog, how to understand the question for task 2. It was very informative.
In this particular essay, as per my understanding, para 1 – describes the problem and para 2- states reason to disagree.
But, as per the blog, we need to write the reason for disagreement in both paragraphs.
Thanks for the question, Hari!
This one isn’t a two part question! For this one, I just need to discuss one or both sides and give my opinion.
Read about these here: https://howtodoielts.com/ielts-writing-task-2-structure-agree-disagree-essay/
Hi Dave
Can I write my paragraph with 2 main ideas that are
Body 1: the consequences of using plastic bags
Body 2: the conveniences of using plastic bags
Yes, that is fine as long as you have an overall opinion on whether or not they should be banned by the end – don’t sit in the middle!
You are doing Mind-blowing job hat’s off
Thank you!!!