Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-21

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)

In many countries, people do not recycle as much of their household waste as they could. This is mainly because recycling is often inconvenient, people lack awareness about its importance, and some governments do not provide adequate facilities. However, a combination of education, better infrastructure and financial incentives could significantly improve recycling rates.

One major reason for low recycling rates is that recycling can be inconvenient. In some areas, households have to separate different types of waste themselves, while recycling bins may be far from their homes or collected infrequently. As a result, people may simply put all their rubbish into one general waste bin. Another important factor is a lack of awareness. Some people do not fully understand the environmental consequences of excessive waste, such as pollution and the unnecessary use of natural resources. In addition, if people believe that recycling requires too much time and effort, they may not consider it worthwhile.

Governments and local authorities can take several measures to address these problems. First, they should provide clearly labelled recycling bins in residential areas and ensure that recyclable materials are collected regularly. Public education campaigns in schools, workplaces and the media could also teach people how to recycle correctly and explain its environmental benefits. For example, children who learn about recycling at school may encourage their families to adopt better habits at home.

Financial incentives can also be effective. Governments could introduce deposit-return schemes, in which consumers receive a small amount of money back when they return bottles and cans. Businesses could also be encouraged to reduce unnecessary packaging and use recyclable materials. Countries that have introduced such systems have shown that people are more likely to recycle when it is both convenient and financially rewarding.

In conclusion, low recycling rates are largely caused by inconvenience, insufficient awareness and inadequate waste-management systems. By improving recycling facilities, educating the public and providing incentives, governments can make recycling a simple and attractive part of everyday life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The ideas are well-developed and logically extended. For instance, the discussion on 'inconvenience' is supported by specific examples like the distance of bins and collection frequency. The solutions provided, such as 'deposit-return schemes' and 'public education campaigns', are relevant and clearly explained. The position is clear from the introduction to the conclusion, and the response maintains a consistent focus throughout. The development of ideas is balanced, ensuring that both the 'why' and 'what can be done' aspects receive sufficient attention.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, starting with the reasons for low recycling and moving to actionable solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'For example' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary conclusion. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the problems and the proposed solutions is clearly articulated, making the text easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic context. The student uses a range of topic-specific terminology such as 'household waste', 'environmental consequences', 'natural resources', 'infrastructure', and 'deposit-return schemes'. The language is natural and demonstrates a good level of flexibility. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it stays within a standard range of academic English. To reach a higher band, the student could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations, though the current usage is highly effective and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'In some areas, households have to separate different types of waste themselves, while recycling bins may be far...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The use of modal verbs like 'could' and 'should' is appropriate for discussing hypothetical solutions, showing a good grasp of nuance in academic writing.

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