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Part 2 cue card · Objects · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce.

Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce.

You should say:

  • ·what the law would be
  • ·how it would work
  • ·who would be affected by it
  • ·what difficulties there might be

and explain why you think it is needed.

One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk. Then Part 3 asks the questions below.

Sample answers

Two answers to the same card

Same story, two levels. Both were written by Ashore, then checked against the public band descriptors in a separate pass. The bands are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.

A simpler answer

Checked at band 6.5 · 189 words

I'd like my country to introduce a law to reduce single-use plastic packaging. It would ask shops and restaurants to use less plastic, especially for takeaway food. For example, they could give customers paper boxes or let them bring their own containers.

The law could start with a simple rule. Businesses would have to charge a small fee for plastic bags and cups, and they would need to show how much packaging they use. The government could give warnings first, and then fines to businesses that do not follow the rule.

This law would affect shops, restaurants, delivery companies and customers. Some businesses might need to spend money on new materials, and customers might find it less convenient to carry a reusable cup or bag. It could also be hard for officials to check every small shop.

I think the law is needed because plastic rubbish is very common in my city. A lot of it is used for only a few minutes, but it stays in the environment for a long time. If people and businesses change their habits, there would be less rubbish in streets and rivers.

  • Simple explanation · “The law could start with a simple rule”
  • Explain the impact · “it stays in the environment for a long time”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 8 · 318 words

Honestly, I'd like my country to introduce a law that cuts down on single-use plastic packaging, especially the kind used for takeaway meals. It wouldn't ban every plastic item overnight; instead, it would set clear limits on how much unnecessary packaging shops and restaurants can use. For instance, a drink shouldn't automatically come with a plastic lid and straw if the customer doesn't need them.

The law could be introduced gradually. Businesses would have to charge a small fee for disposable bags and cups, and larger companies could report how much packaging they use each year. The government could offer guidance and a short transition period, then issue warnings before giving fines to businesses that repeatedly ignore the rules. That would make the policy easier to follow than imposing a big penalty straight away.

It would affect takeaway restaurants, supermarkets, delivery companies and ordinary customers. Small businesses might have to pay more for paper or reusable alternatives, while customers would need to remember a shopping bag or bring their own cup. Delivery firms would also have to rethink how they pack meals, which could take time and staff training.

There would be difficulties, of course. Some alternatives cost more or aren't suitable for every type of food, and it's hard for inspectors to check every small shop. If the rules were too strict too quickly, some owners might simply pass the extra costs on to customers. So the law should be introduced in stages, with practical advice and support for smaller businesses.

Still, I think it's needed because plastic packaging is often used for just a few minutes and then thrown away. In my city, takeaway rubbish can be seen near bus stops and in drains after a busy day. Cutting it at the source would mean less litter to clean up and less plastic reaching rivers, rather than relying on people to sort it all out later.

  • Contrast · “wouldn't ban every plastic item overnight”
  • Practical steps · “then issue warnings before giving fines”
  • Add a specific impact · “which could take time and staff training”
  • Develop with a conditional · “If the rules were too strict too quickly”
  • Offer a root-level solution · “Cutting it at the source”
Angles

3 ways to answer it

  1. 1Recyclable packaging for all deliveries: the mountain of boxes in your dorm after Singles' Day
  2. 2Shopping centres keeping air conditioning above 26 degrees: needing a jacket inside in July
  3. 3A deposit on drink bottles: the return machine you saw while travelling abroad
Expressions

5 expressions that fit this card

go to waste
be thrown away unused
a small price to pay
a minor cost worth paying
in the long run
over a long period
set an example
show others how to behave
change people's habits
make people do things differently
Part 3

The questions that follow

After the long turn, Part 3 asks bigger questions on the same theme. Each one comes with two points you can build an answer from.

  1. 1

    Why do people produce so much more rubbish than in the past?

    • ·Online shopping and takeaways mean lots of packaging
    • ·Things are cheap, so people replace rather than repair
  2. 2

    Do you think recycling alone can solve the waste problem?

    • ·Much plastic can't actually be recycled
    • ·Using less matters more than recycling
  3. 3

    How can schools help children care about the environment?

    • ·Hands-on projects like planting trees
    • ·Let pupils weigh their own rubbish for a week
  4. 4

    Should companies have to pay for the packaging waste they create?

    • ·Paying would push them to cut packaging
    • ·The cost may just be passed on to shoppers
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits this story. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • A green spot in your city

    A park or riverside you go to: who you go with, what you do there, a rule that keeps it clean or should.

Say it out loud and get a band score