Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Many countries have recycling programs, but a lot of household waste still goes to landfill instead of being recycled. This essay will look at the main reasons for this problem and suggest some ways to solve it.

There are two main reasons why people do not recycle enough. First, recycling can feel inconvenient. Sorting rubbish into different bins, washing containers, and remembering collection days takes time and effort. Busy people often do not want to do this extra work, especially if they do not see any clear benefit for themselves. Second, many people do not know enough about recycling. They may not know which materials can be recycled, or what happens to their waste after it is collected. Without this knowledge, they do not understand why recycling is important, so they see no reason to change their habits.

However, there are several ways to solve this problem. Local governments can make recycling easier by giving people clearly labeled bins in different colors and collecting rubbish on a regular schedule. This removes the main practical problem. Money can also help. For example, some cities charge people more if they throw away more non-recyclable waste. This gives people a real reason to sort their rubbish carefully. Finally, schools, TV, and social media can run campaigns to teach people about recycling. This can help people understand the process and the environmental problems caused by landfill, and this understanding can lead to long-term changes in behavior.

In conclusion, the two main reasons people do not recycle are inconvenience and lack of knowledge. But better systems, money incentives, and education can all help increase recycling rates. If governments invest in these solutions now, they can create lasting change in how people behave.

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 presented. For instance, the explanation of 'inconvenience' as a barrier is clearly linked to the effort required for sorting and cleaning, while the solutions provided—such as financial incentives and educational campaigns—are directly relevant and well-supported. The position is clear throughout, and the essay maintains a consistent focus on the topic. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific real-world examples or data to further substantiate the arguments, but the current level of development is strong and meets the requirements for a high score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the relationship between the problems and the proposed solutions is well-managed. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words. The structure is coherent and supports the overall argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'household waste', 'landfill', 'non-recyclable waste', and 'financial incentives'. The word choice is generally precise and natural. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a band 8 or 9 response. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is more than adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly and effectively throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'If governments invest in these solutions now, they can create lasting change in how people behave.' The punctuation is accurate, and the sentence construction is generally error-free. While the range of structures is solid, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more varied complex sentence patterns or advanced grammatical forms to demonstrate greater flexibility. Nevertheless, the majority of sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips do not impede communication in any way.

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

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