Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-12

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 6.5)

In many countries, people do not recycle as much of their rubbish as they could. This is a serious environmental issue because a large amount of waste ends up in landfills or is burned. There are several reasons for this problem, and governments and individuals can take various measures to improve the situation.

One major reason why people do not recycle is a lack of awareness. Many people do not fully understand the environmental consequences of throwing recyclable materials into general waste. In addition, some people consider recycling inconvenient because they have to separate different types of rubbish. Another important factor is the lack of suitable recycling facilities. In some areas, there are not enough recycling bins or collection services, making it difficult for residents to recycle regularly. For example, people living in small towns may have limited access to facilities for recycling plastic, glass and electronic waste.

Several steps can be taken to address this problem. Firstly, governments should provide more recycling bins and make recycling facilities easily accessible to the public. Regular collection services would also encourage people to separate their rubbish at home. Secondly, governments and schools should conduct awareness campaigns to educate people about the benefits of recycling. Finally, financial incentives could be introduced. For instance, people could receive small rewards for returning plastic bottles or other recyclable materials. At the same time, companies should be encouraged to use recyclable packaging and reduce unnecessary waste.

In conclusion, low awareness, inconvenience and inadequate recycling facilities are some of the main reasons why people fail to recycle enough. Governments can improve the situation by providing better facilities, educating the public and offering incentives. If these measures are implemented effectively, recycling rates can increase and the amount of waste sent to landfills can be significantly reduced.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly discussing both why people do not recycle as much as they could and what can be done to change this. The student provides a well-developed position, identifying clear reasons such as a lack of awareness, inconvenience, and inadequate facilities. These points are effectively extended and supported with relevant examples, such as reference to people living in small towns having limited access to recycling facilities. Furthermore, practical and realistic solutions are proposed, including governmental measures, educational campaigns, and financial incentives. The ideas are logically structured to meet the requirements of the prompt thoroughly, which aligns comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct and clear central topic, starting with an introductory overview, moving into reasons, then solutions, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and flexibly to guide the reader through the text, as seen with phrases like 'One major reason', 'In addition', 'Several steps can be taken', and 'Firstly'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the essay flows smoothly from one idea to the next without noticeable disruption. Referencing and substitution are handled very effectively, allowing the response to maintain a high level of overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for some flexibility and precision in discussing environmental issues. Words and phrases such as 'environmental consequences', 'suitable recycling facilities', 'financial incentives', and 'recyclable packaging' show a solid control of topic-specific lexis. Less common items are used with a general awareness of style and collocation, and the vocabulary is fully adequate for the task. Although there are no glaring lexical errors, the language remains safe and mostly standard, lacking the truly sophisticated and flexible control required to reach the Band 8 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay contains a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentences, demonstrating solid grammatical control. The student successfully incorporates subordinate clauses and modal verbs, such as 'Governments should provide more recycling bins and make recycling facilities easily accessible' and 'If these measures are implemented effectively, recycling rates can increase'. There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and punctuation is managed well throughout. Errors are very sparse and do not impede communication in any way. This level of accuracy and variety places the writing firmly in the Band 7 category.

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