Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-07-28

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 8.0)

Due to the concern for the environment, an increasing number of people are choosing to recycle, whereas I would argue that solely depending on recycling cannot fundamentally change the current situation, and that we need to reduce consumption at the same time.

First and foremost, it is worth acknowledging the significance of recycling. Not only can this approach make the most of a variety of resources but it can also reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment. For instance, many marine animals are on the verge of extinction because of eating plastic waste released by factories. If households and factories separated recyclable waste from other waste first, this phenomenon would not happen in the first place. On the contrary, the resources saved by recycling can even be used for supporting animal conservation.

Besides recycling, reducing consumption is the key for preserving the natural environment and wildlife. To illustrate this, if we can reduce unnecessary waste of water and other natural resources, manufacturers will accordingly reduce the number of activities that damage forests, cutting fewer trees, which can absorb greenhouse gases and generate oxygen. In addition, a decreased level of deforestation can preserve more natural habitats for wild animals. The number of tigers in the north part of China, for example, has been increasing since the government started encouraging the general public to use less and implementing strict policies on factories. As a result, humanity will be less likely to face resource depletion and our future generations may still be able to appreciate other species.

In conclusion, in order to protect the environment, governments ought to promote the idea of recycling and encourage citizens to use less because this holistic approach might be able to fundamentally improve animal welfare and save more environmental resources, which is aligned with the concept of sustainability.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the importance of recycling and the necessity of reducing consumption. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the link between reducing consumption and habitat preservation. To reach a higher band, ensure that your examples are universally applicable; for instance, the specific reference to 'tigers in the north part of China' is a good supporting detail, but ensure the connection to global consumption patterns remains the primary focus. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a clear, consistent argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'On the contrary', and 'In addition' to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow between sentences is generally smooth, although some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the structure is clear and supports the development of your argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'fundamentally change', 'on the verge of extinction', and 'resource depletion' are used accurately and appropriately. There is an awareness of style and collocation, though some word choices are relatively standard. To improve, try to incorporate more nuanced academic collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate greater flexibility. The vocabulary used is consistently accurate and does not impede communication, meeting the requirements for a solid band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If households... separated... this phenomenon would not happen') and relative clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is strong. While there are occasional minor slips, they do not interfere with the clarity of your message. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with more diverse sentence beginnings and more complex syntactic structures to show greater flexibility in your writing.

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