Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-05

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 5.0)

It is observed that citizens of various nations show little interest in recycling their waste. A multitude of potential reasons can be responsible for this type of attitudes which require collective efforts to mitigate the issue.

Recycling plays a crucial role in constructing a sustainable society but a lot of people demonstrate their unwillingness due to their consumer behavior and better financial ability. Nowadays, people stay connected to the online platforms more than ever and easily get influenced by the advertisements and hence their tendency to but new household stuffs get increased instead of having materials that are not even old enough to replace. Moreover, individuals improved quality of life has accelerated in this field. They are earning more money which means they will choose to but new things rather than recycle their old products. Therefore, some materials that can be useful by little adjustment becoming waste products due to this patterns.

To solve this problem that hinders a society from achieving its sustainability through process like recycling, donation, providing knowledge through education and other sustainable development programs can be arranged. The potential items should be donated so that other people with actual need can turn then into useful. Besides, the the importance of recycling can be taught from the early period of life at school so that it becomes a habit in the long run. Furthermore, campaign related to recycling must be arranged in societey stopping from dumped into waste.

In conclusion, indispensable

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying reasons for low recycling rates and suggesting solutions. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. The conclusion is incomplete, consisting of only one word, which significantly impacts the overall task completion. While the ideas regarding consumer behavior and education are relevant, they are not fully extended or supported with specific examples. To improve, ensure all sections are fully developed and that the essay meets the minimum length requirement to allow for a comprehensive response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as the awkward phrasing 'due to this patterns'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the abrupt ending in the conclusion disrupts the flow of the text. Paragraphing is present, but the lack of a proper concluding paragraph makes the overall structure feel unfinished. Improving the use of transition signals and ensuring a complete, coherent conclusion would enhance the score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'but new household stuffs' (should be 'buy new household items') and 'turn then into useful' (should be 'turn them into useful items'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise collocations and avoid informal or incorrect word forms. Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary related to sustainability and environmental issues would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'individuals improved quality of life has accelerated' (missing possessive apostrophe), 'some materials... becoming waste' (incorrect verb form), and 'the the' (repetition). Punctuation is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and proofreading for minor slips will help improve your accuracy.

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

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