Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-08

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 parts of the world, recycling has become an important way to reduce environmental pollution. However, despite growing awareness of environmental issues, many people still do not recycle as much as they could. This essay will discuss the main reasons behind this problem and suggest effective solutions.

One of the primary reasons is the lack of convenient recycling facilities. In many areas, recycling bins are either unavailable or located far from residential neighborhoods. As a result, people often choose the easiest option and throw all their rubbish into one bin. Another major factor is a lack of public awareness. Although people may know that recycling is beneficial, they often do not understand which materials can be recycled. In some developing countries, recycling education is rarely included in school programs, leading to poor recycling habits from an early age.

To encourage more people to recycle, governments should make recycling easier and more rewarding. Providing separate bins for paper, plastic, glass, and metal in every community would remove practical barriers. In addition, nationwide awareness campaigns through schools, television, and social media could educate citizens about the long-term benefits of recycling. Financial incentives, such as introducing deposit-refund schemes for plastic bottles could also motivate people to change their behavior. When recycling becomes both convenient and beneficial, more individuals are likely to participate.

In conclusion, insufficient facilities and limited public knowledge are the main reasons why recycling rates remain low. By improving recycling infrastructure, educating the public, and introducing attractive incentives, governments can encourage people to develop environmentally responsible habits and make recycling a natural part of everyday life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: identifying reasons for low recycling rates (lack of facilities and awareness) and proposing solutions (infrastructure, education, and incentives). The ideas are clearly presented and logically developed throughout the essay. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, providing relevant examples such as 'deposit-refund schemes' and 'school programs'. The position is consistent and well-supported, meeting the requirements for a high band score. The essay is balanced, with sufficient depth given to both the causes and the solutions, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving smoothly from the problem to the proposed solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph containing a clear central topic. The progression of ideas is coherent, and the relationship between the causes and the solutions is explicitly stated, ensuring the reader can follow the argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for the topic. The student demonstrates a good range of topic-specific terminology, such as 'environmental pollution', 'residential neighborhoods', 'infrastructure', and 'financial incentives'. The language is natural and conveys the intended meaning clearly. While the vocabulary is accurate and functional, it could be further elevated by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to express complex ideas with clarity and precision, and there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional structures ('When recycling becomes both convenient and beneficial, more individuals are likely to participate') and subordinate clauses ('Although people may know that recycling is beneficial, they often do not understand...'). The punctuation is accurate, and the sentence construction is generally error-free. The writing is fluent, and the few minor slips do not impede communication. The control over complex structures is consistent, contributing to the overall readability of the response.

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