Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-20

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. There are several reasons for this situation, such as a lack of awareness and proper recycling facilities. However, governments and individuals can take some steps to improve this problem.

One main reason is that many people do not know enough about the importance of recycling. They may not understand how rubbish can damage the environment and increase pollution. Another reason is that recycling facilities are not available in every area. For example, some people may want to recycle plastic, paper or glass, but there are no separate bins near their homes. As a result, they simply throw all types of rubbish into the same bin.

There are several ways to encourage people to recycle more. First, governments should provide separate recycling bins in residential areas, schools and public places. This would make recycling easier for everyone. Second, schools and the media should educate people about the benefits of recycling and the harmful effects of waste on the environment. Governments could also introduce small rewards or discounts for people who regularly recycle their household waste.

In conclusion, the low level of recycling is mainly caused by a lack of public awareness and recycling facilities. By providing suitable facilities and educating people, governments can encourage citizens to recycle more and reduce environmental pollution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, exploring the reasons why people do not recycle as much as they could, such as a lack of awareness and inadequate facilities, and suggesting solutions like education and infrastructure improvements. Ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the lack of separate bins near homes. However, a significant penalty must be applied because the response falls short of the 250-word minimum, containing only 225 words. Consequently, the ideas cannot be fully extended and developed to meet the standards of Band 6.0 or higher. Therefore, this is rated at Band 5.5 due to the incomplete task length and slightly limited development.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay presents a clear overall progression and logical structure. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction to causes, then solutions, and finally a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the text, such as "One main reason is," "Another reason is," and "First... Second." Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately. While referencing and linking words are simple, they are deployed accurately and maintain coherence throughout the short piece. This meets the criteria for Band 6.0, as the arrangement is coherent despite some mechanical cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms related to the topic such as "rubbish," "environment," "pollution," "residential areas," and "household waste." There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but word choice remains relatively basic and straightforward, lacking the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and no communication is impeded by lexical errors. This fits comfortably within the Band 6.0 descriptor for an adequate range and minimal spelling errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating good control over basic grammatical structures. Examples of complex sentences include "They may not understand how rubbish can damage the environment and increase pollution" and "Governments could also introduce small rewards or discounts for people who regularly recycle their household waste." Punctuation is accurate, and while the range of sentence structures is somewhat limited due to the short text length, the grammar is largely error-free in the sentences attempted. This performance satisfies the criteria for Band 6.0.

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

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