Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-10-12

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)

People do not recycle their trash as often as they should in a lot of countries. This essay discusses some reasons why waste is not properly recycled as well as what can be done to improve it in these countries.

To begin with, one of the biggest reasons for poor recycling in some countries is a lack of effective waste management system. Some people who are interested in preserving the environment may prefer to properly recycle their waste but can not because there are not enough recycling ammenities in the environment. For example, most countries only provide a common trash disposal system without separating non-recycled vs recycled trash. This limits the options of people to effectively separate rubbish meant for recycling.

Furthermore, lack of education on the importance of recycling can be a hinderance in many countries. Many countries do not educate their citizens on the advantages of recycling waste therefore limiting the use of waste management resources. For example, a country could distribute recycle bins in various communities however, these bins would not be appropriately utilized due to lack of information on the types of trash that should go in there.

Although people in various countries might not practice recycling as often as they should, actions can be carried out to improve recycling in these countries such as government investment in effective as well as efficient waste management system. For example, the goverment providing recycle bins in communities along with constantly educating its citizens on the improtance of recycling.

In conclusion, while many countries do not recycle their rubbish as often as they should due to poor waste management system and lack of information, the government can improve recycling by investing in recycling resources together with informing their communities on the benefits of recycling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both questions and maintains a clear focus: it identifies inadequate waste-management facilities and limited public education as reasons, then proposes government investment and education. The examples about mixed rubbish disposal and recycling bins help explain these points. This meets the task well, but the ideas are not equally developed. The causes receive separate explanation, whereas the solution is mainly stated in one sentence and would benefit from detail about how education could be delivered or how collection systems could be improved. The claim that “most countries” provide only a common disposal system is also broad and would be stronger with a specific or qualified example. More balanced development and support would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, two paragraphs explaining causes, a paragraph on solutions, and a conclusion that restates the main points. Progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “Furthermore,” and “In conclusion” make the organisation explicit. The examples are generally placed next to the ideas they support. However, some linking is mechanical, and the solution paragraph begins with “Although,” even though it does not clearly contrast with the preceding discussion. The repeated references to “many countries” and “recycling” also make the flow somewhat repetitive. Use more varied transitions and connect the proposed actions more directly to the causes already identified.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Vocabulary is adequate for discussing the topic, and phrases such as “waste management,” “preserving the environment,” and “properly utilized” show attempts to use more formal and topic-specific language. Meaning remains clear throughout. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “recycling ammenities in the environment,” “a hinderance,” and “the goverment providing recycle bins.” There are also spelling errors such as “improtant” and “goverment,” which reduce accuracy. Repetition of “recycling,” “countries,” and “waste” limits flexibility. Aim for precise collocations and check spelling; for example, describe “access to recycling facilities” rather than facilities “in the environment.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including relative clauses (“people who are interested in preserving the environment”) and a concession structure (“Although people… might not practice recycling…”). Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and errors rarely obstruct understanding. Some grammatical problems remain, particularly with articles and sentence construction. For example, “a lack of effective waste management system” needs a plural or an article adjustment, and “the government providing recycle bins…” is a sentence fragment rather than a complete example sentence. The final sentence also has an awkwardly constructed cause-and-solution relationship. Practise checking that each sentence has a clear main verb and that singular countable nouns have appropriate articles.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.