Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-08

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 6.0)

Indeed, people are not aware of the waste from recycling in many nations. There are many reasons behind this phenomenon, such as a lack of knowledge and a shortage of recycling resources, a hectic schedule, a competitive life, and a materialistic lifestyle. Some steps can be taken to tackle this problem, such as educational programs and the availability of recycling things etctera.

There are many causes of this problem. First and foremost is a materialistic lifestyle. People have lots of disposable options; they prefer to use plastic things that can be easily thrown away after use. For example, plastic bottles, glasses, plates, straws, and so on are used on different occasions and are thrown away as garbage directly because they do not have different dustbins or collection options for recycling garbage in many nations. Secondly, they are not aware of the bad effects that are created by plastic. Hence, they are not interested in recycling. Last but not least, they have hectic lives, so they do not have time to differentiate garbage. As a result, they throw away all things in wastage rather than recycling.

Moving further, some steps can be taken to tackle this problem on the basis of the government as well as individuals. The government should not only provide environmental education to students but also organize informational programs for society. Hence, people will be more aware about environment safert and recycling waste. Individuals ought to sort the garbage differently, such as recycling things in a different dustbin, kitchen compost, and waste in a different one. It will help to recycle things easily. Finally, the local authority has to provide resources to collect recycling items.

To sum up, having seen the above-stated information, it is clear that recycling is important for handling garbage. The government and individuals should take steps together to recycle to make society spick and span. The sooner people understand the importance of recycling and start recycling things, the better it is for society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of a 'materialistic lifestyle' and the need for government-led educational programs. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of why people do not recycle is repetitive, focusing heavily on the lack of time and convenience. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or elaborate on the consequences of these actions. The position is clear throughout, but the depth of analysis remains at a functional level rather than a fully developed one.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost,' 'Secondly,' 'Moving further,' and 'To sum up' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the use of 'recycling things etctera' in the introduction, which is too informal. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, but the connection between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a repetitive structure. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and supports the flow of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'disposable options,' 'materialistic lifestyle,' and 'local authority.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and informal phrasing, such as 'recycling things etctera' and 'environment safert' (a spelling error). The phrase 'spick and span' is an idiom that does not fit the formal tone of an IELTS essay. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoid informal abbreviations or colloquialisms that detract from the professional tone of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, such as 'people are not aware of the waste from recycling' (which is semantically confusing) and 'on the basis of the government' (which is an awkward collocation). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are minor slips in word formation and article usage. The grammar is sufficient to communicate your ideas clearly, but the lack of error-free complex structures prevents a higher score. Focus on refining your sentence variety and ensuring subject-verb agreement.

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

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