Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-17

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)

many countries, people do not recycle their rubbish as much as they could. There are several reasons for this problem, and some steps can be taken by governments and individuals to improve the situation.

One major reason is that many people do not have enough knowledge about recycling. They may not understand how recycling can protect the environment and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. Another reason is that recycling facilities are not always easily available. For example, if there are no separate bins for plastic, paper and glass in a neighbourhood, people may simply put all their rubbish in the same bin. In addition, some people may find recycling inconvenient and therefore do not make the effort to separate their waste.

There are several ways to encourage people to recycle more. First, governments should provide more recycling bins and regular collection services in residential areas. This would make recycling easier and more convenient. Second, schools and the media could educate people about the environmental benefits of recycling. For example, campaigns could explain how recycling reduces pollution and saves natural resources. Governments could also introduce financial incentives, such as discounts or small rewards, for people who regularly recycle their household waste.

In conclusion, people may recycle less because they lack knowledge, facilities and motivation. Governments can address this issue by providing better recycling services, educating the public and offering incentives. These measures could encourage more people to recycle their rubbish regularly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, exploring the reasons why people fail to recycle and suggesting viable solutions. The main ideas are relevant and supported by clear examples, such as the lack of separate bins in neighbourhoods and the use of financial incentives. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. However, there is a penalty applied because the text falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum, containing only 243 words. Consequently, the ideas, while well-presented, cannot be fully extended as would be expected at higher band levels. This prevents the response from achieving a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Information and ideas are coherently structured across four distinct paragraphs, with an introduction, two body paragraphs focusing on reasons and solutions respectively, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively to connect ideas, such as 'One major reason', 'Another reason', 'In addition', and 'First'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing throughout the text is generally clear and easy to follow, allowing the reader to navigate the arguments without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate and sufficiently precise for the task. The writer successfully employs relevant topic-specific vocabulary such as 'landfills', 'residential areas', 'natural resources', and 'financial incentives'. While the range is somewhat limited and lacks more sophisticated or less common lexical items, the word choices are natural and accurate. Spelling and word formation are entirely correct throughout, and errors in word choice are virtually non-existent, ensuring that communication is smooth and clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammar and punctuation. There is a successful mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('if there are no separate bins...') and relative clauses ('people who regularly recycle'). The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is handled correctly. Minor errors are rare, and the grammatical structures used do not impede communication at any point, reflecting a solid command of sentence formation.

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

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