Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-07-28

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)

Increasing landfill waste is a serious concern in many countries. This is because many people do not recycle waste to the extent that they can. This is due to lack of education and government efforts. However, educational reforms and government awareness programs could help eliminate this problem.

The most compelling reason for the issue of recycling is the fact that most people do not have awareness about the significance and positive effects of recycling. In many countries most of the landfill waste is burnt which makes people believe that the issue of pollution is eliminated. However, when rubbish is burnt it releases harmful cases that cause air pollution and the problem still remains. It is extremely important that schools start integrating recycling practices in their curriculum. When children look at ways of how waste can be converted into something new, it can be intriguing and can encourage them to transform their household waste into something functional. Young people can then also encourage their parents or friends to adopt the same practices.

Government initiatives also play a huge role in the public's participation and interest in recycling rubbish. Most people rarely see any advertisements, campaigns and programs funded by the government to shed light on the issue of land pollution. This ultimately makes them think that the issue is trivial. To shift the public's perception towards recycling, governments should plan awareness campaigns or seminars which could help people understand how normal household waste can be recycled. Additionally, I believe that certain benefits should be provided to households that recycle more often such as discounted garbage pickup charges. When people see a direct benefit from recycling they will be more likely to participate in and adopt such practices.

Conclusively, the issue of not recycling waste can be attributed to low government efforts and lack of awareness. But effective measures such as integration of this issue into educational curriculums and government campaigns can help people adopt recycling practices as much as they can.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well-developed. For example, the suggestion to integrate recycling into school curricula and the proposal for financial incentives like 'discounted garbage pickup charges' are relevant and well-supported. The essay maintains a consistent focus on the topic, and the arguments are extended logically. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific examples of successful government programs from a particular country to further strengthen the depth of your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as education or government initiatives, which helps the reader follow your argument. Cohesive devices like 'However', 'Additionally', and 'Conclusively' are used effectively to link ideas. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the problem and the solution is handled well. The structure is coherent and supports the overall flow of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'compelling reason', 'shed light on', and 'public's perception' are used appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though there is a minor error in 'harmful cases' (likely meant 'gases'). While the vocabulary is adequate and generally accurate, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific terminology (e.g., 'sustainable waste management' or 'environmental stewardship') would elevate the lexical range further. Overall, the vocabulary is natural and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. For instance, the use of conditional structures ('When people see a direct benefit... they will be more likely...') is accurate. There are very few grammatical slips, and punctuation is handled correctly. The range of structures is sufficient to convey complex ideas clearly. To improve, ensure that you proofread for minor word-choice errors, such as the confusion between 'cases' and 'gases', to ensure complete accuracy.

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