Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-23

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)

In some countries, people over the age of 50 find it increasingly difficult to obtain good jobs, despite having considerable work experience. This problem can be caused by changes in the workplace and employers’ preferences for younger workers. However, several measures can be taken to address this issue.

One major reason is the rapid development of technology. Many industries now require employees to use new software, digital tools and modern methods of communication. Older workers may sometimes have less experience with these technologies than younger applicants, particularly if they have not received regular training. Another factor is that some employers prefer younger employees because they may be willing to work for longer periods and adapt more easily to changing working conditions. In addition, companies may wrongly assume that older workers are less flexible or less productive, despite their valuable experience.

There are several ways to improve this situation. Firstly, governments and companies should provide regular training programmes that allow older employees to develop their digital and professional skills. This would help them remain competitive in the modern job market. Secondly, employers should focus more on a candidate’s skills and experience rather than their age. Stronger laws against age discrimination could also encourage companies to give older applicants a fair opportunity. Finally, older workers themselves should be encouraged to update their skills and adapt to changes in their industries.

In conclusion, the difficulty faced by people over 50 in finding good employment is mainly related to technological changes, employers’ attitudes and age discrimination. Providing appropriate training and ensuring fair recruitment practices could help older workers remain active and competitive in the workforce.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 2.0

It appears there is a significant prompt deviation in your response. The official task prompt asks about why people do not recycle their rubbish as much as they could and what can be done to change this. However, your essay entirely discusses the difficulties people over 50 face in obtaining good jobs and how to solve age-related employment issues. Because you have answered a completely different question from the one provided in the prompt, your response fails to address the core requirements of Task Achievement. While the ideas regarding employment are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, they are entirely off-topic for this specific task prompt. To achieve a higher band score in future, you must carefully read the prompt and ensure that your thesis statement and body paragraphs directly answer the specific question asked.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

Despite the off-topic content, the structural organisation of your writing is clear and logical. You successfully employ a traditional four-paragraph structure with an introduction, two distinct body paragraphs exploring reasons and solutions respectively, and a clear concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'One major reason', 'Another factor', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently, and the overarching progression of your ideas within the context of employment is easy to follow. However, because the content does not match the prompt, the logical development fails to serve the required task, limiting the overall score for this criterion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate and at times strong range of vocabulary related to the workplace and professional development. Phrases such as 'rapid development of technology', 'remain competitive in the modern job market', and 'age discrimination' show a good command of thematic language. Word choice is generally appropriate, and spelling is accurate throughout the text. While you attempt some less common lexical items, such as 'recruitment practices' and 'professional skills', the overall lexical range is somewhat restricted by the narrow focus of the essay. Nevertheless, the vocabulary used is precise and allows your ideas to be communicated clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

Your grammatical control is a strong feature of this response. You successfully utilise a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses and conditional-style meanings, such as in 'particularly if they have not received regular training' and 'This would help them remain competitive'. The majority of your sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There are very few errors, and those that do occur are minor and never impede communication. The control over complex verb forms and modal verbs demonstrates a solid intermediate to upper-intermediate level of grammatical accuracy.

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