Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-15

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)

In many countries, it has been noticed that individuals are not prioritizing recycling and reduction of waste as much as they could. This is because of multiple reasons such as lack of awareness or not having proper waste collection system. If waste is not treated properly, this could significantly impact the environment. Authorities should promote recycling and run campaigns for the awareness of the population.

To commence with, people are not recycling and reducing their household waste because they are not aware of their pros and cons. Moreover, they do not have community dustbins and proper waste collection system set up by government bodies. Similarly, they also know the effects of waste on the environment. This can create a sense of ignorance about waste and recycling among the individuals. For instance, collection of waste once a week and cash rewards for recycling plastic waste can encourage people for recycling.

This can be changed through educating people about the importance of recycling and describing them the detrimental effects of garbage on the environment and their life. This could be possible by setting up awareness camps and proper dustbins in neighborhoods. Additionally, law enforcement authorities can collect fine from the people who are not following the recycling procedures. For instance, in countries like Canada and America, households may face penalties if they do not properly sort their waste into designated bins.

To sum up, people show negligence regarding waste management because they are not aware of its harmful outcomes. Authorities should run waste management campaigns to educate individuals.

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 lack of awareness and infrastructure, and the solutions provided, like education and fines, are logical. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about 'cash rewards' is mentioned but not fully explained in terms of its impact. The argument could be strengthened by providing more detailed examples or deeper analysis of why these specific solutions would be effective. Overall, the response covers all requirements but lacks the depth of development expected for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'Additionally' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. There are also instances where the logical flow is slightly hindered, such as the sentence 'Similarly, they also know the effects of waste on the environment,' which contradicts the earlier point about a lack of awareness. Improving the precision of these linking phrases and ensuring the logical progression of ideas remains consistent would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their meaning clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'waste management', 'detrimental effects', and 'designated bins'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'collect fine from the people' instead of 'impose fines on individuals'. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to express ideas with greater nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'not having proper waste collection system' (missing article), 'describing them the detrimental effects' (incorrect verb usage), and 'collect fine' (should be plural or include an article). These errors do not significantly impede communication, but they are noticeable. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that complex sentence structures are constructed accurately without minor slips.

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

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