Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In recent years, although recycling is promoted everywhere, many people still do not recycle their waste effectively. This essay will discuss the main reasons for this and suggest some solutions.

There are several reasons why people do not recycle. Firstly, many people find recycling inconvenient. In many cities, there are no separate bins for plastic, paper, and glass near their homes, so people just throw all rubbish into one bin. Secondly, there is a lack of awareness. Some people do not understand how important recycling is for the environment and how landfill waste causes pollution and climate change. Finally, people often feel that their individual actions do not make a difference. They think that even if they recycle, others will not, so it is a waste of time.

To solve this problem, both governments and individuals should take action. The government should make recycling easier by providing separate recycling bins in every neighbourhood and collecting recyclable waste regularly from homes. For example, in countries like Germany, the bin system is very clear and recycling rates are very high. Another effective solution is education and incentives. Schools should teach children about recycling from a young age, and governments can run campaigns on social media and television. Moreover, offering small financial rewards, such as paying people for returning plastic bottles, can encourage more people to recycle.

In conclusion, people do not recycle enough mainly because of inconvenience, lack of knowledge, and the feeling that it is pointless. However, this can be changed if the government provides better facilities and educates the public. If these measures are taken, from my perspective, cooperation between the government and citizens can significantly increase recycling rates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly identifying both the reasons why people fail to recycle and proposing practical solutions. The position is well-maintained throughout the essay. The student provides clear and relevant reasons in the second paragraph, such as inconvenience, a lack of awareness, and psychological barriers regarding individual impact. Similarly, the third paragraph offers well-developed solutions involving government intervention, educational initiatives, and financial incentives. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as referencing the bin system in Germany. This meets the criteria for a strong performance, demonstrating a fully developed response to both prompt questions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, moving to causes and solutions, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Moreover'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the causes and solutions into distinct, manageable blocks. The transitions between paragraphs are smooth, and referencing is handled well, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are clear and easy to follow without mechanical repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'inconvenient', 'lack of awareness', 'landfill waste', and 'financial rewards' are used accurately. There is also an attempt to use less common items with an awareness of style and collocation, such as 'cooperation between the government and citizens'. While the vocabulary is not excessively sophisticated or native-like throughout, it is more than adequate for the task. Word choices are precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentences, such as concessive clauses ('although recycling is promoted everywhere') and conditional structures ('even if they recycle, others will not'). The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is handled competently. There are very few errors, and control over grammar is strong throughout the response. The student successfully strings together multi-clause sentences without losing control of syntax or clarity, easily satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.5 performance in grammar.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.