Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-29
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 many countries, people do not recycle their rubbish as much as they could. This essay will explain why do i think this is and what can be done to change this.
One major reason why people fail to recycle is a lack of awareness. Some people do not understand people the materials in general waste. In addition , some people do not store this , beacuse it's inconvenient so that a reason. For example, if a neighborhood does not provide separate bins for paper, plastic, and glass, residents are more likely to put everything into one bin.As a result, large quantities of recyclable waste end up in landfills.
There are several effective measures that governments can take to increase recycling rates.First, they should provide clear information about recycling through schools, social media, and television campaigns.Second, local authorities should provide separate recycling bins and collect recyclable waste regularly.Financial incentives can also encourage people to recycle more.For instance, governments could offer small refunds for returning plastic bottles and other recyclable containers.These measures would make recycling easier and encourage people to develop environmentally responsible habits.
In conclusion, low recycling rates are mainly caused by a lack of public awareness and inadequate recycling facilities.Governments can address these problems by educating the public, improving waste-collection systems, and providing financial incentives for recycling.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for low recycling rates and potential solutions. However, the response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas provided—such as lack of awareness and inadequate infrastructure—are relevant, they are not fully developed. The explanation for why people find recycling inconvenient is brief, and the examples provided are somewhat generic. To achieve a higher band, you must expand on your points with more detailed explanations or specific real-world examples to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In addition', 'For example', and 'First', to link sentences and ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. For instance, the sentence 'In addition, some people do not store this, beacuse it's inconvenient so that a reason' is poorly connected and lacks clarity. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will help improve the overall cohesion of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your ideas clearly. You use topic-specific terms like 'landfills', 'recyclable waste', and 'financial incentives'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'do not understand people the materials in general waste'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary, including less common collocations and more precise academic terminology, while ensuring that your word choices are natural and accurate in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'why do i think this is' (should be 'why I think this is') and 'beacuse' (spelling error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods in several places. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and spelling. Increasing the use of error-free complex sentences will also help demonstrate better grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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