Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-11-13

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 6.5)

The technologies of modern world have bestowed many blessings upon the mankind, however, its impacts on our ecosystem are very dangerous. Over the past years, a very big shift in our climate can be observed, which has caused a lot of irreversible damage to our environment. A large number of people assume that recycling can help in maintaining our ecosystem while other think that we must decrease our consumption. Although recycling is a great way to re-use useable items, I believe reducing our consumption is also very important as there exist items, which cannot be reused.

Recycling has helped us a lot in our aim to maintain a sustainable environment. Through recycling, we learned to think critically about the daily accessories that can be put to use again. For instance, many people use old pots and bottles as decorative and gardening items. Similarly, old books and magazines are being used to manufacture toilet paper in many countries. Thus, this recycling of old paper into new can help in reducing deforstation as the wood of one tree can be used twice. Furthermore, the waste of animals are also being used to produce organic fertilizers which increase the fertility of land and reduce the need to use dangerous chemicals.

Despite these advantages, recycling is not the answer to all of our problems. For instance, there are a lot of artificial materials that cannot be recylced or take too much time in the process. One of the such substances is polythene bags, which are used in local shops and convenient stores. A large quantity of these bags, when thrown on land, affect our soil negatively. For such problems, the possible answer is reducing our requirments. For example, many malls are using paper bags as an alternative, however these bags are also made from the wood of trees. Thus, we also need to consume less.

In conclusion, I would say that we must recylce the "recycle-able" items and decrease our need for the items that harm our nature.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both views and give a clear position: recycling is useful, but reducing consumption is also necessary. The examples of reusing household items, turning paper into toilet paper, and replacing plastic bags help make the discussion relevant. Your conclusion restates your view consistently. This meets the task well, but the two sides are not developed equally: the benefits of recycling receive several examples, while the case for consuming less is mainly illustrated through bags and the limitations of recycling. The claim that paper bags are an alternative is also left unresolved, since you note that they use trees without explaining how this supports consuming less. Develop the reasons behind your position and connect each example more explicitly to the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction presents the issue and your view, separate body paragraphs discuss recycling and reduced consumption, and the conclusion summarises your position. Linking expressions such as “For instance,” “Furthermore,” “Despite these advantages,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the argument. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the central line of reasoning remains clear. To make the organisation more flexible and precise, avoid relying so heavily on explicit transition phrases and strengthen the links between examples and the point they illustrate. For example, the discussion of paper bags could explain how it leads to the conclusion that consumption should fall. Also clarify references such as “these bags” by naming the paper bags directly.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “sustainable environment,” “fertility of land,” “organic fertilizers,” and “artificial materials.” These choices allow you to discuss recycling and environmental effects with reasonable clarity, and some less common terms show an effort to be precise. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “the mankind,” “daily accessories,” “a very big shift,” and “our requirements” where “consumption” would be more natural. Spelling errors, including “deforstation,” “recylced,” and “recylce-able,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling carefully; a more precise vocabulary would make the argument sound more fluent and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses and contrast structures: “Although recycling is a great way…” and “Despite these advantages, recycling is not the answer…” This gives the response some variety, and the meaning is generally clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In the opening, “The technologies … have bestowed …, however, its impacts” has a faulty connection between clauses and unclear agreement; use a full stop or semicolon before “however” and make the pronoun agree with “technologies.” There are also errors in “other think” and “One of the such substances,” which should be “others think” and “One such substance.” Review agreement, articles, and sentence punctuation to improve consistency.

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