Reducing single use plastic packaging
This is a model answer written to show what a Band 7 response looks like against the marking criteria. It is a worked example, not a graded submission. To see your own band, paste your writing into the free checker.
The prompt
Many products we use every day come wrapped in single use plastic packaging. Why has the use of plastic packaging become so common? What can governments and individuals do to reduce it?
Band 7 model answer (267 words)
A huge proportion of the products we buy each day arrive wrapped in single use plastic. This essay will consider why plastic packaging has become so widespread and what both governments and individuals can do to cut it down.
There are clear reasons why plastic packaging is everywhere. Above all, it is extremely cheap to produce, and it is light, which keeps transport costs low for manufacturers and retailers. Plastic is also durable and waterproof, so it protects food from damage and keeps it fresh for longer, which reduces waste in the shop. Because it costs so little and does its job so well, companies have had little reason to look for alternatives. It has also become normal for shoppers to expect fruit, vegetables and even single biscuits to be wrapped, so demand for packaging keeps growing.
Both governments and ordinary people can help to reduce this. Governments have the greatest power: they can ban the worst single use items, tax plastic bags, and require supermarkets to offer refillable or paper alternatives. Individuals can also make a real difference by carrying reusable bags and bottles, buying loose fruit and vegetables, and choosing products with less packaging. Schools and community groups can help too by raising awareness from an early age. When enough shoppers demand greener options, businesses quickly change what they offer.
In conclusion, plastic packaging has become common mainly because it is cheap, light and effective at protecting goods. The amount we use can be reduced if governments regulate it firmly and individuals change their everyday buying habits, so that the responsibility is shared between them.
Why this reaches Band 7
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Task Response
Both questions are answered directly: a developed explanation of why plastic packaging is common, and concrete steps for governments and individuals, stated clearly rather than as vague calls for action.
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Coherence and Cohesion
One paragraph per question, with signposting ("There are clear reasons", "Both governments and ordinary people") that guides the reader.
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Lexical Resource
Precise phrasing such as "extremely cheap to produce", "durable and waterproof" and "carrying reusable bags and bottles".
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied sentence structures with conditionals ("if governments regulate it firmly") and few errors.
The one fix to reach Band 7
The classic Band 6 mistake on a two-part question is answering one half fully and rushing the other, or offering vague fixes like "the government should act". To reach Band 7, give each question its own body paragraph and name specific, realistic measures.
Now check your own answer.
Paste your own attempt at this prompt and Examinerly names the single criterion keeping you below your target band, and shows the sentence-level fix. We never inflate your band.
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