Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-25

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, recycling rates remain low despite growing awareness of environmental problems. I believe this is primarily due to a lack of convenience and public awareness, but both governments and individuals can take steps to improve the situation.

There are two main reasons why people fail to recycle. Firstly, many individuals find recycling inconvenient. In some cities, households are not provided with separate bins for recyclable and non-recyclable waste, which means people would have to travel to recycling centers themselves. Given busy lifestyles, most people simply choose the easier option of throwing everything in one bin. Secondly, there is a lack of education and motivation. A significant number of people do not fully understand what materials can be recycled or why it matters. Without clear information about the environmental impact of waste, many assume that their individual actions make little difference.

To address this issue, governments should make recycling more accessible and promote it more effectively. One solution is to implement door-to-door collection of recyclables, as has been done successfully in countries like Germany and Japan. This removes the inconvenience barrier. In addition, authorities could launch nationwide awareness campaigns in schools, on television, and on social media to educate the public about the benefits of recycling. Financial incentives could also help. For example, some Scandinavian countries use a deposit-return system where people get money back for returning bottles and cans, which has significantly increased recycling rates.

In conclusion, low recycling rates stem from inconvenience and lack of awareness. However, by improving infrastructure and educating the public, governments can encourage far more people to recycle regularly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout. Ideas are well-developed, such as the explanation of 'inconvenience' linked to infrastructure and the 'lack of motivation' linked to education. The examples provided, such as the mention of Germany, Japan, and Scandinavian deposit-return systems, are relevant and effectively support the arguments. The response is balanced and covers all requirements of the task thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the problem and the solution is smooth. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In addition', and 'However', which help guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The flow is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic context. The student uses a range of topic-specific terminology such as 'recyclable waste', 'infrastructure', 'nationwide awareness campaigns', and 'deposit-return system'. The word choice is natural and demonstrates a good level of flexibility. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively.

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 cities, households are not provided with separate bins... which means people would have to travel...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is accurate. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs is consistent. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the overall quality of the writing is highly professional and accurate.

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