Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-07-31

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 their rubbish as much as they could. This problem is caused by several factors, but it can be addressed through education and better waste management systems.

One major reason for low recycling rates is a lack of awareness. Many people do not understand the environmental benefits of recycling or how to separate different types of waste correctly. In addition, some communities do not provide enough recycling bins or collection services, making recycling inconvenient. As a result, people often choose to throw everything into one rubbish bin.

To improve the situation, governments should invest in public education campaigns and make recycling easier. Schools can teach children about environmental protection from an early age, while media campaigns can encourage adults to develop better habits. Furthermore, local authorities should provide clearly labeled recycling bins in public places and residential areas. Some countries have also introduced fines for failing to recycle or rewards for households that recycle regularly, which have proven effective.

In my own experience, my community introduced separate bins for plastic, paper, and glass, along with regular awareness programs. As a result, more residents began recycling, and the amount of waste sent to landfills decreased significantly.

In conclusion, increasing public awareness and improving recycling facilities are the most effective ways to encourage people to recycle more.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are presented in a somewhat brief manner. To achieve a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations or additional examples. For instance, when discussing government intervention, you could elaborate on the specific challenges of implementing such systems in different socio-economic contexts. Because the response is under-length, it fails to fully develop the ideas required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'As a result' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is easy to follow. To improve, you could vary your linking words further and ensure that the transition between the problem and the solution is even more seamless. Overall, the coherence is a strong point of this essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'environmental protection', 'residential areas', and 'landfills' correctly. The language is natural and clear, which allows for easy communication. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would push the score into the 7.0+ range. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or topic-specific academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'rubbish', you could use 'municipal waste' or 'recyclable materials' to enhance the academic tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are very few errors, and those present do not impede communication. You show good control over punctuation and sentence construction. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'If governments were to implement X, then Y would likely occur') or passive voice constructions to vary your sentence rhythm. Your current control is solid, but increasing the complexity of your syntax will demonstrate a higher level of proficiency.

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