Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-01

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 7.5)

In many countries, people do not recycle as much household rubbish as they could. This is a serious environmental issue because a large amount of waste ends up in landfills instead of being reused. There are several reasons for this situation, and a number of effective measures can be taken to encourage people to recycle more.

One major reason is a lack of awareness. Many people do not fully understand the environmental consequences of throwing recyclable materials away. They may also find recycling inconvenient, especially when there are no separate bins or collection facilities near their homes. Another reason is that some people believe that recycling is time-consuming and makes little difference. In addition, in some countries, recycling systems are poorly organised, which makes it difficult for residents to separate and dispose of their waste correctly.

There are several ways to address this problem. Firstly, governments should provide separate recycling bins in residential areas and ensure that recyclable waste is collected regularly. This would make recycling much more convenient for households. Secondly, schools and the media should educate people about the benefits of recycling and the long-term damage caused by excessive waste. Financial incentives could also be introduced, such as discounts or small rewards for households that regularly recycle.

For example, when separate bins are easily available and people are clearly informed about what can be recycled, they are more likely to develop the habit of separating their rubbish. In my experience, having clearly labelled bins at home makes recycling much easier and more consistent.

In conclusion, people often fail to recycle because of a lack of awareness, inconvenience and inadequate recycling facilities. Governments and communities can improve the situation by providing better facilities, educating the public and introducing suitable incentives. With these measures, recycling could become a normal part of everyday life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have fully addressed both parts of the prompt, providing clear reasons for the lack of recycling and proposing logical, actionable solutions. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly in the second and third paragraphs, where you explain the 'why' (lack of awareness, inconvenience) and the 'how' (government infrastructure, education, incentives). To reach the highest band, you could further extend your examples by discussing a specific country or a more detailed case study to add depth to your arguments, but overall, the response is comprehensive and well-structured.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'One major reason', 'Another reason', 'Firstly', and 'In addition', which guide the reader through your arguments smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a single, clear theme. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the problem to the solutions and finally to a summary. The use of referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is natural, making the text easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the topic, such as 'environmental consequences', 'recyclable materials', 'financial incentives', and 'inadequate recycling facilities'. The language is precise and natural throughout. While the vocabulary is accurate and sufficient, it stays within a standard range. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations or idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'mitigate the environmental impact' instead of 'address this problem'). However, your current usage is error-free and effectively conveys your meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used throughout the essay. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'when separate bins are easily available and people are clearly informed about what can be recycled, they are more likely to develop the habit'. There are virtually no grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is excellent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence, which is consistent with a high band score.

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

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