Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-13

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 6.0)

It is often argued that in many parts of the world recycling rates remain lower than they should be . This is primarily because of lack of public awareness and inadequate infrastructure. However , there are solutions to this problem like introducing public educational campaigns and financial incentives.

First and foremost, the main obstacle for recycling is widespread of public confusion regarding waste sorting . Many people who genuinely want to recycle but find the guidelines regarding different types of materials and plastics confusing , which often leads to cross contamination or apathy. Furthermore, the lack of convenient infrastructure for recycling makes the process more inconvenient. In many areas residents travel long distances to reach recycling centers or their apartment buildings do not simply provide separate recycling bins . Consequently, when the effort required to recycle outweighs the benefits individuals find it better to throw as general waste than to recycle

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of your ideas. While you identify two relevant reasons (lack of awareness and infrastructure) and mention potential solutions, the lack of length prevents you from fully developing these points or providing the necessary examples required by the prompt. The essay stops abruptly after the first body paragraph, meaning the second part of the prompt—'What can be done to change this?'—is only briefly introduced in the introduction and not expanded upon. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full, balanced discussion for both parts of the question and meet the word count to allow for sufficient elaboration.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a logical structure with a clear introduction and a body paragraph. You use cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Furthermore', and 'Consequently' to link ideas effectively. However, because the essay is incomplete, the overall progression is cut short. Paragraphing is used correctly, but the lack of a concluding paragraph or a second body paragraph makes the response feel unfinished. To reach a higher band, ensure you have a complete structure with a clear introduction, at least two well-developed body paragraphs, and a conclusion that summarizes your main points.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You use a range of vocabulary that is generally appropriate for the topic, such as 'inadequate infrastructure', 'public educational campaigns', and 'cross contamination'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'widespread of public confusion' (should be 'widespread public confusion') and 'do not simply provide' (which sounds slightly unnatural). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the variety and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your range of collocations and using more sophisticated academic vocabulary would help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as the missing article in 'lack of public awareness' and the awkward phrasing in 'throw as general waste' (should be 'throw it away as general waste'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though there are some spacing issues before commas. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. To improve, focus on mastering article usage and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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

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