Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

In many countries, people throw away a large amount of rubbish instead of recycling it, even though recycling can **reduce environmental damage.** There are several reasons for this situation, including a **lack of awareness and inconvenient recycling** **facilities**. However, governments and individuals can take a number of steps to encourage better recycling habits.

One major reason why people do not recycle enough is that they are **not fully aware** of its importance. Some people may not understand how recycling can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and **save natural resources.** Another reason is that recycling can sometimes be **inconvenient**. For example, if separate bins for paper, plastic and glass are not available near people's homes, they may simply put all their rubbish into one bin. In addition, some people may believe that recycling takes too much time, especially when they have to separate different types of waste.

There are several ways to address this problem. Firstly, governments should provide clearly **labelled recycling bins** in residential areas, schools and public places. This would make recycling easier and encourage people to develop the habit. Secondly, s**chools and the media can educate people** about the benefits of recycling through **campaigns and simple educational programmes**. For instance, children could be taught how to separate household waste, and they could encourage their parents to follow the same practice. Governments could also **offer small rewards** or discounts to households that regularly recycle their rubbish.

In conclusion, people often fail to recycle because they lack awareness or do not have easy access to suitable facilities. Governments can improve the situation by providing c**onvenient recycling services, educating the public and offering incentives**. With these measures, recycling could become a normal part of people's daily lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, such as the mention of 'inconvenient recycling facilities' and the suggestion of 'small rewards' or 'educational programmes'. The position is clear from the introduction and is maintained throughout the essay. Each paragraph provides sufficient supporting detail, such as the example of children encouraging parents, which demonstrates a good level of task development. The response is balanced and covers all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the problems and solutions is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'One major reason', 'Another reason', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'environmental damage', 'landfills', 'natural resources', and 'incentives'. The language is natural and precise, with no significant errors in word choice or collocation. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band; however, it is more than adequate for a band 7.0 or 7.5 level, as it conveys meaning clearly and effectively without repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional structures ('if separate bins... are not available') and relative clauses. The grammar is largely error-free, and punctuation is used correctly. The sentences are well-constructed, and the control over tense and agreement is consistent. While the range of structures is solid, incorporating a few more varied complex sentence patterns could elevate the score further, but the current level is highly accurate and clear.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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