Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries, people do not recycle their rubbish as much as they could.

Why do you think this is?

What can be done to change this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

It is widely accepted that in multiple nations, individuals do not recycle their waste to the full potential. While the driving factors behind this paradigm are inadequate infrastructure and lack of awareness about its impact on the environment, the feasible solutions to mitigate the issue are investment in infrastructure and campaigns to educate the public.

To commence with, the primary catalyst behind this problem is inadequate waste disposal infrastructure to households which creates a formidable situation for the public. To expound, since some authorities do not provide additional bins to separately dispose of the recyclable waste, many people end up disposing all the waste together, rather than making an effort to put it separately. Furthermore, even though many developed nations have equipped their general populace with the designated waste containers, some demographics are unmotivated to practice recommended waste disposal practices due to lack of awareness about the impact of their neglect with respect to recycling.

Additionally, to alleviate these issues the authorities can play a pivotal role by not only improving disposal facilities but also by spreading awareness. To elaborate, governments should ensure availability of designated garbage and recycling waste bins to every household to equip them with adequate supplies. Moreover, both state and local organizations such as schools, should encourage the citizens to practice recycling by educating them about the negative consequences of irresponsible waste management.

In conclusion, although lack of facilities and careless waste disposal are the factors for limited recycling, these issues can be effectively resolved by upgrading the facilities and by raising the awareness about recycling practices which support a sustainable environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are logically developed. For instance, the discussion on 'inadequate waste disposal infrastructure' and the corresponding solution of 'upgrading facilities' provides a balanced approach. While the ideas are relevant, they could be further extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach the highest band. However, the response fully satisfies the requirements of the task by providing a coherent argument that directly answers the 'why' and 'what can be done' components.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the causes to the solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Furthermore', and 'Additionally' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The referencing is generally clear, and the flow of the argument is smooth, making the essay easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices, which supports a strong score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'paradigm', 'mitigate', 'catalyst', 'formidable', and 'sustainable environment'. There is an attempt to use less common lexical items, and they are generally used with precision. While there are no major errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, the range is not quite wide or sophisticated enough to reach the highest band. The language is natural and fits the formal tone required for an IELTS essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Complex structures, such as 'While the driving factors behind this paradigm are...', are used effectively. There are very few minor errors, and they do not interfere with the clarity of the message. The punctuation is also handled well throughout the text. The control over grammatical structures is consistent, reflecting a solid command of English syntax and morphology suitable for a high band score.

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