Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-23

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)

The issue of people not recycling their rubbish to the fullest has become a major concern in many countries due to scarcity of resources and increase in complain regarding the clealiness. This is largely because of lack of awareness and discipline among citizens, along with a lack of clarity among citizens regarding the process.

First and foremost, citizens lack awareness regarding recycling and thus do not do it with discipline and consistency. This is largely because they lack clarity regarding the process of how recycling takes place, where it takes place, and how they can contribute to the same. Additionally, they are also uncertain about what they have to do

For Instance, they know that there are different color bins for dry, wet, recyclable and non-recyclable; however, they are at times confused about in which bin to put there that particular rubbish.

Furthermore, clear instructions plays a critical role in encouraging people to recycle their rubbish as much as possible. This can be done by displaying the instructions just above the bins for standard rubbish, along with mentioning the advantages of the recycling and for instances where citizens are uncertain regarding some of the rubbish we can have screens or assigned assistance to guide them. Consequently, this will lead to citizens that are more aware and motivated to recycle the rubbish as much as possible.

To summarize, with clear instructions and guidance, the citizens can be encouraged to fully recycle the rubbish and keep the country clean, sustainable and beautiful.

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 lack of awareness and the need for clearer instructions. However, the development is somewhat limited. The essay is quite brief, and the arguments could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis. For instance, the suggestion of 'assigned assistance' is a good idea but is not fully explored in terms of its feasibility or impact. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported by more detailed explanation or evidence to fully develop the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main questions. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Furthermore', and 'Consequently' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the connection between the lack of awareness and the specific solution of 'screens' could be smoother. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary like 'sustainable', 'recyclable', and 'non-recyclable'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'increase in complain regarding the clealiness' (should be 'complaints regarding cleanliness') and 'contribute to the same'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. Expanding the range of synonyms and collocations would improve the score.

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 several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'clear instructions plays' (subject-verb agreement error, should be 'play'), 'in which bin to put there that particular rubbish' (awkward phrasing), and 'advantages of the recycling' (unnecessary article). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy in subject-verb agreement and article usage is recommended.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.