Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-11-10
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Concern for the environment is growing and more and more people are choosing to recycle. But some people suggest that recycling is not enough. They believe we need to consume less.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Due to growing environement concern many people are choosing to recycle. While some people suggest, the need to consume should be less as recycling is not sufficient. Nowdays, with proper awareness not to harm environment through the internet, people are either doing more recycling or they believe in less consumption. I partialy agree with both perspectives.
Nowdays, people are fully aware of their responsibilities as a society member. The government has introduced the color-coded reycling system in each society and strict penalties on the prohibition of these rules, which turned out more beneficial for the environment. For instance, due to the fear of these strict-fines, people are more careful about separating the recycling items from general household garabage, followed to gradual increase in recycling proportion.
On the other hand, some people argue that solution is not recycling more, but less consuming. If the government remove litter penalities, people will start repeating the same pattern, rising the concern for the environement again. I partially beleive that, alarming the sense in people to consume and recycle properly will keep balanced ratio in cleaniness. For example, not buying uncertain things and following recycling rules will make the environement less polluted and more clean.
In conlusion, For the environment concern it is better to have the balance equation, of recycling and consuming more rather than focusing on one debate. Both perspectives has it's own reason of acting, but neither comes with only the benefits. Keeping both things together will turn the environement more clean and safe.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You address both views and state a position—“I partially agree with both perspectives”—then return to the idea of balancing recycling and consumption in the conclusion. The examples about colour-coded recycling and avoiding unnecessary purchases are relevant. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the first body paragraph focuses mainly on penalties and sorting waste, without explaining how recycling reduces environmental harm or its limitations. The second view is also unclear because the point about removing litter penalties does not directly explain why consuming less is preferable to recycling more. Develop each side with a clear reason and a specific consequence, and make your own position more precise than simply supporting a balance.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Signposts such as “On the other hand,” “For instance,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the broad direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow: the discussion moves from government penalties to recycling, then to removing penalties, without clearly connecting these points to the central comparison. Repeated references to “the environment” and “both perspectives” also make the argument feel repetitive, while some linking phrases are awkwardly used. Organise each body paragraph around one main claim, explain it, and then give an example that directly supports it.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “recycling system,” “household garbage,” “consumption,” and “polluted,” so the subject is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision, such as “environement,” “Nowdays,” “garabage,” and “cleaniness.” Some combinations are also unnatural, including “strict penalties on the prohibition of these rules” and “balanced ratio in cleaniness.” These choices can make the reader pause to interpret your meaning. Build a more accurate set of environmental collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, refer to “penalties for breaking recycling rules” and “a balance between reducing consumption and recycling.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional structure in “If the government remove litter penalities, people will start repeating the same pattern.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur often enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. Examples include “the need to consume should be less,” where the comparison is not formed correctly, and “Both perspectives has it's own reason,” which has agreement and possessive-form errors. Articles and sentence construction are also problematic in phrases such as “as a society member” and “For the environment concern.” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and conditional forms, and keep sentence structures clear before attempting longer combinations.
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.