Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-13

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 7.0)

In many countries, people do not recycle their rubbish as much as they could. This is a growing environmental concern, and there are several reasons for this situation. The main causes are a lack of awareness and limited access to convenient recycling facilities. However, governments and individuals can take effective steps to improve recycling rates.

One major reason is that some people do not understand the importance of recycling or know how to separate different types of waste. In addition, recycling can seem inconvenient when there are not enough collection points or recycling bins. For example, people living in areas without regular recycling services may simply put recyclable materials in their general rubbish. Another factor is that some individuals believe that their personal efforts will have little impact on the environment.

There are several ways to encourage people to recycle more. First, governments should provide clear information through schools, television and social media about the benefits of recycling and how waste should be separated. Second, local authorities should install clearly labelled recycling bins in residential areas and provide regular collection services. Offering small financial incentives could also encourage households to recycle regularly.

In conclusion, low recycling rates are mainly caused by limited awareness, inconvenience and a lack of proper facilities. Governments can address these problems by educating the public, improving recycling services and providing incentives. If these measures are implemented effectively, more people are likely to develop regular recycling habits and contribute to a cleaner environment.

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. However, the essay falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum requirement (246 words). While the ideas are relevant and clearly presented, the development is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples or provide more depth to your arguments. For instance, when discussing financial incentives, you could explain how a 'pay-as-you-throw' scheme works to provide a more concrete illustration. Because the word count requirement was not met, the score is impacted.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'For example', and 'In conclusion', which help the reader follow your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of linking phrases to make the transitions between sentences feel even more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'environmental concern', 'recyclable materials', and 'financial incentives' are used accurately. The language is natural and appropriate for an IELTS task. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks some of the 'less common' or more idiomatic items that would push the score into the 8.0+ range. Focus on incorporating more topic-specific collocations or nuanced synonyms to elevate the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is consistently accurate, and you use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are virtually no grammatical errors, and your punctuation is handled correctly throughout the text. The sentence construction is clear and supports the flow of your ideas well. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'Were governments to implement these measures...') or more varied passive constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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