Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-07

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 different countries around the world, it has become an increasingly significant issue that people do not reuse recyclable products from household waste. Although a lack of awareness of environmental damage and busy lifestyles are the major causes, I believe that separating different types of rubbish into designated bins and conducting awareness campaigns could help address this concern.

The major reason is a lack of awareness of environmental damage. In some countries, people have limited knowledge of environmental issues, which results in them putting all types of rubbish together. They may also prefer to purchase new items rather than reuse existing ones. Moreover, due to hectic schedules, individuals have limited time and tend to choose the most convenient option. Consequently, they often dispose of recyclable and non-recyclable waste in the same bins. For example, in India, most people dispose of recyclable, non-recyclable, and organic waste together, which contributes to air and soil pollution.

To control this situation, awareness campaigns organised by governments and local authorities would be an effective measure. Such campaigns could educate people about environmental problems and encourage them to adopt more sustainable habits. For instance, in Canada, people can receive money in exchange for returning used plastic milk containers through recycling programs. Additionally, an effective solution would be to provide separate bins for organic, recyclable, and non-recyclable rubbish. This would make recycling more convenient and encourage people to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

In conclusion, although busy lifestyles and a lack of environmental awareness are major reasons why people fail to recycle or reuse waste, this problem can be addressed through public education and the provision of separate rubbish bins. In my opinion, these measures would significantly reduce environmental pollution and benefit society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt clearly. You have identified two main reasons for the lack of recycling—a lack of awareness and busy lifestyles—and provided two logical solutions: public education campaigns and the provision of separate bins. The ideas are well-developed, and the inclusion of specific examples, such as the mention of India and Canada, adds depth to your arguments. Your position is clear from the introduction through to the conclusion. To reach a higher band, you could further elaborate on the 'why' behind the busy lifestyle argument, perhaps explaining how modern consumer culture exacerbates the issue, but overall, the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the problems and the solutions is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Moreover,' 'Consequently,' and 'In addition.' The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text. The use of referencing is also precise, ensuring that the reader remains oriented to the topic at all times.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'increasingly significant issue,' 'designated bins,' and 'sustainable habits' show a good command of topic-specific language. There is a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate a more flexible and fluent range, though the current usage is perfectly adequate and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is consistently accurate, and you use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although a lack of awareness... I believe that...') is handled well. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. You show good control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To reach the highest band, you could experiment with even more varied sentence structures, but your current control is very strong.

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