Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-28

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)

In many countries, people do not recycle their rubbish as much as they could. This has become a serious environmental issue. There are several reasons why recycling rates remain low, and some effective measures can be taken to encourage people to recycle more.

One of the main reasons is that many people are not fully aware of the importance of recycling. They may not understand how recycling helps reduce pollution and save natural resources. Another reason is the lack of recycling facilities in some areas. If recycling bins or collection services are not easily available, people are more likely to throw everything into ordinary rubbish bins. In addition, modern lifestyles are often busy, and some people think that separating waste takes too much time and effort.

To improve the situation, governments should invest in better recycling systems. More recycling bins should be placed in public areas and residential neighbourhoods so that people can recycle conveniently. Public awareness campaigns can also play an important role. For example, schools, television programs, and social media can educate people about the benefits of recycling and its positive impact on the environment. Furthermore, governments could offer rewards for households that recycle regularly or introduce fines for those who ignore recycling rules.

In conclusion, low recycling rates are mainly caused by a lack of awareness, inadequate facilities, and convenience-related issues. By improving recycling infrastructure and educating the public, governments can encourage more people to recycle and help protect the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. The ideas are relevant and logically presented. However, the response is 244 words, which falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the depth of development, as the arguments, while clear, remain somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples—for instance, by explaining exactly how a specific government incentive program has succeeded in another country. Because the response is slightly under the word count, it cannot be awarded a band higher than 6.0 for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a central theme, such as reasons or solutions, which aids readability. Cohesive devices like 'In addition,' 'To improve the situation,' and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to transition between ideas. The progression of information is logical and easy to follow. To improve further, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat formulaic structure, but the current level of organization is clear and appropriate for a band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'environmental issue,' 'natural resources,' and 'infrastructure' correctly. The language is natural and conveys your meaning without difficulty. However, the vocabulary is somewhat standard and lacks the 'less common' or 'precise' lexical items that would characterize a higher band score. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific terminology (e.g., 'sustainability,' 'waste management protocols,' or 'incentivization schemes'). The current range is sufficient but does not show the flexibility required for a band 7.0 or above.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of conditional sentences ('If recycling bins... are not easily available, people are more likely to...') is well-handled. There are very few grammatical errors, and your punctuation is consistent. While the range of structures is solid, it is not particularly ambitious. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions or inverted structures, to demonstrate greater control over sophisticated syntax.

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

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