Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-11-12

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 4.0)

Environmental protection has become a major concern worldwide and recycling is increasingly encourage as a way to reduce waste. While some people believe that recycling is a effective way to solve environmental problems, others argued that it is not sufficient and that society must reduce it overall consumption . In my opinion, although recycling play an important role, consuming less is a more fundamental step towards protection the environment .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You introduce both sides of the discussion and state a clear opinion: recycling has an important role, but reducing consumption is more fundamental. This is relevant to the question, but the response stops after the introduction, so neither view is explained or supported with reasons or examples. The task therefore receives only minimal treatment, rather than a developed discussion. The required minimum length is not met: the response is 180 words short. To improve, explain how recycling can reduce waste, why it may not address overconsumption, and support each point with a specific example before reaching a conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The ideas in the opening move in a sensible order: you introduce environmental concern, present the two positions, and then give your own view. The contrast signalled by “While” helps connect the opposing perspectives, and “In my opinion” clearly marks your position. However, the response contains only one paragraph and ends before the discussion can progress, so there is no development from one main point to another or a concluding paragraph. The linking is consequently limited to the introduction. Organise the full essay into an introduction, separate body paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion, using clear references and transitions to show how each point relates to your argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “environmental protection,” “recycling,” “reduce waste,” and “consumption,” and the meaning of your position is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “a more fundamental step.” However, the short response offers little evidence of range or flexible word choice, and several word-form or collocation errors reduce accuracy: “increasingly encourage” should be “increasingly encouraged,” and “protection the environment” needs “protecting the environment” or “environmental protection.” Check article use in phrases such as “an effective way.” In a longer essay, use precise terms for the effects of waste and resource use, and ensure that each phrase is grammatically and naturally formed.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a complex opening sentence and use a subordinate contrast clause in “While some people believe …, others argued …,” showing some ability to connect clauses. The main position is also understandable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are frequent in this short sample: “recycling is increasingly encourage” should be “recycling is increasingly encouraged”; “a effective way” should be “an effective way”; and “recycling play” should be “recycling plays.” The shift from “believe” to “argued” also makes the tense inconsistent, while “consuming less is … step towards protection the environment” needs a corrected grammatical pattern. Practise checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and verb forms, then proofread each sentence.

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