Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-07

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 parts of the world, recycling rates remain far below their potential despite growing concerns about environmental pollution. This essay will discuss the main reasons why many people fail to recycle their waste and suggest several effective measures to encourage this practice.

One of the primary reasons for low recycling rates is a lack of public awareness. Many people are unaware of the environmental consequences of improper waste disposal or do not know how to separate recyclable materials correctly. As a result, they simply throw all their rubbish into a single bin. Another important factor is the lack of convenient recycling facilities. In many areas, recycling bins are scarce, collection services are unreliable, or recycling centres are located far from residential neighbourhoods. Consequently, people often choose the easier option of disposing of all their waste together.

To improve this situation, governments should invest in better recycling infrastructure. Providing clearly labelled recycling bins in public places and residential areas, together with regular collection services, would make recycling far more convenient. In addition, public education campaigns should be launched through schools, television, and social media to raise awareness about the environmental and economic benefits of recycling. Financial incentives, such as deposit-return schemes for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, could also motivate people to recycle more frequently. At the same time, authorities should introduce fines for households and businesses that repeatedly fail to comply with waste-sorting regulations.

In conclusion, insufficient awareness and inadequate recycling facilities are the main reasons why recycling rates remain low in many countries. By improving infrastructure, educating the public, rewarding responsible behaviour, and enforcing appropriate regulations, governments can significantly increase recycling and reduce the harmful impact of waste on the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The ideas are well-developed and supported with clear examples, such as the mention of deposit-return schemes and public education campaigns. The position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. The structure is logical, with distinct paragraphs for reasons and solutions, ensuring that all parts of the task are covered thoroughly. The content is relevant and demonstrates a good understanding of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the reasons for low recycling and the proposed solutions is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'in addition', and 'at the same time' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall flow of the argument. The use of referencing is clear, and the essay reads naturally without any mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic context. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'environmental consequences', 'recycling infrastructure', 'deposit-return schemes', and 'comply with waste-sorting regulations'. The language is natural and demonstrates a good level of flexibility. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. A variety of complex sentence structures are used, such as conditional clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'Providing clearly labelled recycling bins... would make recycling far more convenient'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used accurately to enhance clarity. There are no noticeable grammatical slips that impede communication, and the control over tense and agreement is consistent throughout the text.

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