Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-17
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 5.5)
In most of the countries, people throw away the trash just as it is. They do not have much awareness about the recycling of the waste materials. We as an individual along with the help of government should be a part of awareness compaigns to make the best use of the rubbish. In the essay I will discuss about the recycling ideas and how can we change the perspective and make people aware of the dangers of plastics and other reusable wastes.
First of all, we could see around the people using things and throw it out right away. This practice has become very common nowadays. Furthermore, this happens because they are not use to of a thing to reuse it in a different way. They put that in trash bin without a second thought. Therefore, no one teaches them to try something else from these useless things and make it something worth it. For example, people around throw trash in a single dustbin. There is no categories of the types of wastes they are putting in. Just all in one. I don't see many people making useful things of these wastes.
In contrast, some people are very much aware of the usefulness of the bottles, shoppers, plastic materials, peels and seeds of the fruits and vegetables. They think that these should be reused to make a little effort in betterment of the environment.
In my opinion, today it is the need of an hour that we should have awareness to make better use of waste things. Government should also stand for arranging compaigns for such purposes. They should build recycling centers to help train people how to recycle and what to recycle. These activities should also be arranged in schools to make children aware of usefulness of reusing wastes and dangers of pollutants and make them more creative.
In conclusion, although some people don't reuse rubbish and throw it away. But some are
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. However, the development is somewhat superficial. While you mention a lack of awareness and a need for government intervention, the ideas are not fully extended or supported with specific, concrete examples. The conclusion is incomplete, which impacts the overall task completion. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a clear, logical explanation followed by a specific example or a more detailed elaboration of the point. The current structure is a bit repetitive, focusing heavily on 'awareness' without exploring other factors like infrastructure or economic incentives.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'First of all' and 'In contrast'. There are also issues with referencing; for example, 'this practice' and 'that' are used without clear antecedents, making some sentences feel disjointed. The flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by grammatical errors, and the abrupt ending of the essay significantly disrupts the overall coherence. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would improve the logical progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'things', 'rubbish', and 'trash' repeatedly. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'shoppers' (likely meaning plastic bags) and 'compaigns' (spelling error). While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'pollutants' and 'recycling centers', the overall lexical range is limited. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive, generic nouns by using more precise terminology related to waste management and environmental sustainability.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'In most of the countries', 'they are not use to of a thing', and 'there is no categories'. Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, such as pluralisation and correct verb forms, will significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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