Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-27

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 7.0)

In many countries, people do not recycle as much household waste as they could, despite growing awareness of environmental problems. This essay will discuss the main reasons for this behaviour and suggest effective ways to encourage recycling.

One major reason is a lack of awareness about the importance of recycling. Many people do not understand how their everyday waste contributes to pollution and climate change. In addition, recycling can seem inconvenient, particularly when households have limited space for separate bins or when recycling facilities are not easily accessible. Another contributing factor is that some people are simply unwilling to change their established habits. For example, busy families may prefer to throw all their rubbish into one bin rather than spend time sorting paper, plastic and glass.

Several measures could be taken to address this issue. First, governments should introduce educational campaigns in schools and communities to explain the environmental and economic benefits of recycling. Second, local authorities should provide clearly labelled recycling bins in residential areas and public places, making the process more convenient. Financial incentives, such as discounts or refunds for returning plastic bottles, could also motivate people to recycle more frequently. For instance, bottle deposit schemes can encourage consumers to return empty containers instead of throwing them away.

In conclusion, inadequate awareness, inconvenience and poor habits are key reasons why recycling rates remain low. Governments can improve the situation through education, accessible facilities and financial incentives, while individuals must also take responsibility for reducing waste.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt fully by identifying clear reasons why people do not recycle, such as lack of awareness, inconvenience, and established habits, and offers well-developed solutions like educational campaigns, accessible facilities, and financial incentives. The position is clear throughout, and ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as bottle deposit schemes. However, a strict length check reveals that the essay contains 247 words, which is slightly below the 250-word minimum requirement. Because of this minor length infraction, a slight penalty must be applied to the Task Achievement score, bringing it down to a 6.0 despite the strong content and clear development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Each paragraph has a distinct and clear central topic, moving smoothly from an introduction to body paragraphs discussing causes and solutions, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively and appropriately without feeling mechanical, as seen with transition phrases like 'One major reason', 'In addition', 'Several measures', and 'First'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate ideas logically. Referencing throughout the text is clear and precise, making the essay very easy to follow for the reader. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision appropriate for a general task. Words and phrases such as 'growing awareness', 'environmental problems', 'convenient', 'accessible', and 'financial incentives' demonstrate a solid command of topic-specific lexico-grammatical resources. The writer also attempts less common items and collocations with good awareness of style, such as 'established habits' and 'bottle deposit schemes'. There are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While it occasionally touches upon the flexibility seen in higher bands, the range is safely anchored at Band 7 due to its natural control and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simpler sentence forms, showing strong grammatical control. Sentences such as 'In addition, recycling can seem inconvenient, particularly when households have limited space for separate bins or when recycling facilities are not easily accessible' are well-formed and structurally complex. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled accurately throughout the text. The few minor flaws or limitations do not impede communication at all. The control of grammar, integration of subordinate clauses, and overall sentence variety fully support a Band 7 evaluation.

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