Enormous quantities of plastic waste end up in the world's oceans every year.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Enormous quantities of plastic waste end up in the world's oceans every year.
What problems does this cause? What measures could be taken to reduce it?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
Every solution must answer a problem you actually raised — unlinked paragraphs are the standard penalty on this type. The analytical key here is that ocean plastic is not a littering problem: most of it enters through rivers in countries whose waste systems were never built for the volume of packaging now sold there. Solutions aimed at consumer behaviour therefore address the wrong end of the pipe.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then signpost: the problems are ecological and dietary; the solutions must target production and collection, not consumer conscience.
Body 1 — Problems — entanglement and ingestion at every level of the food chain, and microplastics entering the food supply and drinking water.
Body 2 — Solutions — make producers responsible for the disposal cost of what they sell, and fund waste collection where the leakage actually occurs.
Conclusion — The leverage is upstream: reduce what is produced and capture what is used before it reaches a river.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
335 words
Vast amounts of plastic waste are dumped into the world's oceans annually. Nevertheless, a range of measures could be implemented to curb this problem.
The most visible consequence of oceanic plastic pollution is the widespread harm inflicted on marine life. To illustrate, sea turtles, seabirds and fish frequently mistake plastic fragments for food, resulting in fatal intestinal blockages, while larger debris such as discarded fishing nets can entangle and drown dolphins and whales. Beyond direct harm to wildlife, plastic gradually degrades into microplastics that infiltrate the food chain, eventually reaching human consumers through seafood and potentially posing long-term health risks that remain poorly understood by medical researchers. Coastal economies dependent on tourism and fishing also suffer, as polluted beaches and depleted fish stocks deter visitors and undermine local livelihoods that entire communities rely upon for generations. Coral reefs, too, suffer lasting damage when discarded nets and bags smother them, disrupting entire underwater habitats that took centuries to form.
To reduce this crisis, governments should impose strict regulations on single-use plastics, such as bags and packaging, which constitute a significant proportion of ocean debris. For example, several countries have already introduced bans or levies on plastic bags, prompting a marked decline in their usage within a short period. In parallel, greater investment in recycling infrastructure and biodegradable packaging alternatives would reduce the volume of plastic that ultimately reaches waterways. Public awareness campaigns are equally essential, as they can encourage individuals to dispose of waste responsibly and support businesses that adopt sustainable packaging practices rather than the cheapest available option. International cooperation is also crucial, since ocean currents carry plastic waste far beyond the borders of the country where it originated, making unilateral action insufficient on its own. Businesses that adopt refillable packaging models can also reduce demand for single-use plastic at its source.
To conclude, the accumulation of plastic in the oceans endangers marine ecosystems and human health alike, yet stricter regulation of single-use plastics, improved recycling infrastructure and public education could substantially mitigate this damage.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is a problem and solution question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Introduction — paraphrase that huge quantities of plastic waste enter the oceans each year, and note that measures could curb the problem.
Body 1: Body 1 — explain the problems: marine animals are killed by ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic, microplastics enter the human food chain, and coastal tourism and fishing economies suffer.
Body 2: Body 2 — explain the solutions: governments should regulate or ban single-use plastics, invest in recycling and biodegradable packaging, run public awareness campaigns, and encourage international cooperation since ocean currents cross borders.
Conclusion: Conclusion — briefly summarise that ocean plastic harms ecosystems and health, but regulation, infrastructure and education could substantially reduce the damage.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
oceanic plastic pollution
the contamination of seas and oceans with plastic waste
The most visible consequence of oceanic plastic pollution is the widespread harm inflicted on marine life.
intestinal blockages
obstructions inside the digestive system, often fatal
sea turtles, seabirds and fish frequently mistake plastic fragments for food, resulting in fatal intestinal blockages.
microplastics
tiny plastic particles formed as larger plastic breaks down
plastic gradually degrades into microplastics that infiltrate the food chain.
food chain
the sequence of organisms that feed on one another
eventually reaching human consumers through seafood and potentially posing long-term health risks.
single-use plastics
plastic items designed to be used once and discarded
governments should impose strict regulations on single-use plastics, such as bags and packaging.
levies
taxes or charges imposed by an authority
several countries have already introduced bans or levies on plastic bags.
biodegradable packaging
packaging materials that break down naturally without lasting pollution
greater investment in recycling infrastructure and biodegradable packaging alternatives would reduce the volume of plastic that ultimately reaches waterways.
sustainable packaging practices
ways of packaging goods that minimise environmental harm
support businesses that adopt sustainable packaging practices rather than the cheapest available option.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
Answers checked here may be published on this page, without your name, to help other learners. Nothing else about you is stored.
Common questions
How do I make sure my solutions match my problems?
Name the problem inside the solution sentence — "because the plastic escapes through uncollected waste, the remedy is…". It forces the link to be visible, and the visible link is exactly what examiners are checking for on this question type.
Is it acceptable to criticise a popular solution?
Yes, and it demonstrates evaluation rather than recall — provided you then offer one that works. Explaining why plastic bag bans underperform, then proposing producer responsibility, is far stronger than listing both approvingly.
How many problems and solutions should I write?
Two of each, properly developed, is the right target for 40 minutes. Four undeveloped points is the most common reason a competent essay on this type scores 6 rather than 7.
