Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-22

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)

Although recycling can significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, many people still fail to recycle as much as they could. This essay will discuss the main reasons for this problem and suggest several measures that could encourage people to recycle more regularly.

One major reason for low recycling rates is a lack of awareness and convenience. Many people do not fully understand the environmental consequences of disposing of recyclable materials as ordinary waste. In addition, recycling facilities may not be easily accessible, particularly in densely populated areas or smaller communities. For example, if households have to travel a considerable distance to find recycling centres, they may simply put recyclable items in their regular rubbish. As a result, even people who are aware of the importance of recycling may fail to do so consistently.

Several measures could be introduced to address this issue. Governments should provide convenient recycling facilities and make the collection of recyclable waste available to households on a regular basis. Schools and the media could also educate people about the environmental and economic benefits of recycling. Furthermore, governments could introduce financial incentives, such as refunds for returned bottles and containers, while imposing fines on businesses or households that repeatedly ignore recycling regulations. These measures would make recycling both easier and more rewarding, encouraging people to change their everyday behaviour.

In conclusion, low recycling rates are largely caused by insufficient awareness and a lack of convenient facilities. Governments can address this problem by improving collection systems, educating the public and providing incentives for recycling. With these measures, recycling could become a more routine part of people's daily lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly explaining why people fail to recycle as much as they could and suggesting effective measures to change this. The student adopts a clear position throughout the essay. The ideas are well developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the lack of accessible recycling facilities in densely populated areas and the introduction of financial incentives like container refunds. The arguments flow logically from causes in the second paragraph to solutions in the third paragraph. This meets the criteria for a strong band score, as all requirements of the prompt are thoroughly explored without any omissions or irrelevant digressions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with a concise introduction, moving to causes and solutions in the body paragraphs, and concluding with a succinct summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'In addition', 'For example', 'As a result', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate ideas logically. There are no noticeable faults in referencing or transitions, making the essay extremely easy to follow and read from beginning to end.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student exhibits a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on environmental issues. Items such as 'environmental consequences', 'densely populated areas', 'financial incentives', and 'recycling regulations' demonstrate a good control of collocation and style. Less common vocabulary is used naturally throughout the essay. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated or rare enough to push into the highest bands, it is precise, accurate, and fully appropriate for the task, with no spelling errors or inappropriate word choices that might impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses ('if households have to travel a considerable distance...') and participial clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing strong control of grammar and punctuation. Subject-verb agreement, article usage, and verb tenses are handled accurately throughout the text. While there are a few minor structural patterns rather than a truly expansive range of complex constructions, the grammatical control is solid and reliable, allowing the reader to comprehend every argument without any difficulty.

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