Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-30

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 7.5)

In recent times, the low rate of household recycling in many countries has become a subject of significant debate. In my view, this issue is primarily driven by a lack of public awareness and inadequate infrastructure, but it can be effectively mitigated through community education campaigns and government policy incentives.

On the one hand, a primary reason behind low recycling rates is the lack of accessible facilities and clear guidance for households. This is largely because many local authorities fail to provide convenient sorting bins or regular collection services, making the process inconvenient for residents. For instance, in many urban neighborhoods, residents must travel long distances to drop off recyclable waste rather than having doorstep collection. As a direct result, individuals often choose to dispose of all their waste together, leading to increased landfill output.

On the other hand, I firmly believe that targeted government initiatives and improved public infrastructure are essential to resolving this problem. When local councils implement mandatory recycling programs paired with clear bin-labeling systems, households are far more likely to adopt sustainable habits. A clear illustration of this can be seen in several European cities, where financial incentives—such as deposit-return schemes on plastic bottles—have drastically boosted recycling participation. Consequently, aligning civic convenience with policy measures creates a long-term cultural shift toward responsible waste management.

In conclusion, low recycling rates are predominantly influenced by poor structural convenience and limited public initiative. While this situation continues to pose environmental challenges, it can be successfully transformed through accessible recycling infrastructure and well-designed public incentives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the prompt, successfully identifying reasons why people do not recycle as much as they could, such as a lack of public awareness and inadequate infrastructure, while also proposing actionable solutions like community education campaigns and government policy incentives. The writer maintains a clear position throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as referencing European cities and deposit-return schemes. The response demonstrates a thorough understanding of the task requirements, meeting all the criteria outlined for a high band score. The development of ideas is cohesive and directly answers both the 'why' and 'what can be done' components of the prompt with appropriate depth.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving smoothly from the introduction to causes, then to solutions, and concluding with a concise summary. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme. Cohesive devices are managed well without feeling mechanical or obtrusive. For instance, transitional phrases like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Consequently' are employed naturally to guide the reader through the argument. Referencing and substitution are handled smoothly, maintaining semantic flow across sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource suitable for an academic writing task. Uncommon items such as 'mitigated', 'inadequate infrastructure', 'landfill output', and 'deposit-return schemes' are used skillfully and naturally. There is a strong awareness of style and collocation, with appropriate word choices throughout the text. Only occasional minor inaccuracies might be conceived, but the range of vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings effortlessly. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate, supporting smooth communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The writer employs a wide range of complex grammatical structures with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated subordination and participial phrases, such as 'When local councils implement mandatory recycling programs paired with clear bin-labeling systems...' and '...aligning civic convenience with policy measures creates a long-term cultural shift...'. Punctuation is handled impeccably, and grammatical control is sustained throughout the essay. Only very occasional non-systematic slips could be argued, placing this response firmly in the higher band brackets for grammatical performance.

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