Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-08
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)
It is true that environment plays an essential role in a country’s economy. Thinking for the environment is growing and majority of individuals are preferring to recycling. However certain masses opine that recycling is not a necessity. They think we have to consume minimum. I support the latter view point.
On the one hand, I think that majority of youngsters consume more fast food and other items and they spread waste at public places. It is very essential to make the environment cleaner and I believe that consumption of fast food may be not beneficial for health and environment. So it is necessary to consume less food and make the environment safer and cleaner. Moreover, maximum consumption of fast food, cold drinks would be cause serious health problems like heart diseases, diabetes and kidney problems. Therefore, it is necessary for individuals to consume less to protect their health and make the environment safer by not spreading cans and other items.
On the other hand, majority of masses prefer to recycle their garbage and trash. They usually recycle water, cans, and other products to protect the environment. Furthermore, in their daily lives they do many works and try to keep the environment cleaner with the recycling of some useful materials. It helps for the safer and cleaner environment.
In conclusion, I believe that consumption of less food will be helpful for the protection of environment rather than recycling process. However, if the masses try to consume less food and do not produce waste in the public areas, it will help to make the environment cleaner and safer for public.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. The argument focuses heavily on 'fast food' as the primary source of environmental waste, which is a narrow interpretation of 'consuming less.' While the prompt asks about general consumption, the essay restricts the scope to diet and health, which weakens the depth of the argument. To improve, you should broaden your focus to include consumerism, manufacturing, and resource depletion, rather than just littering or unhealthy eating habits. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack the necessary breadth for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Moreover' are used to signal shifts in the argument. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the connection between sentences can feel repetitive. For example, the transition between the health impacts of fast food and the environmental impact is not always smooth. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'cleaner,' 'safer,' and 'useful materials.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'certain masses opine' and 'spread waste at public places.' Using more sophisticated vocabulary related to environmental issues—such as 'sustainability,' 'over-consumption,' 'waste management,' or 'ecological footprint'—would significantly improve your score. Additionally, ensure that word choices are natural; 'certain masses' is not a standard way to refer to groups of people in an academic context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'environment plays an essential role' (missing article 'the'), 'majority of individuals are preferring to recycling' (incorrect verb form), and 'consumption of fast food may be not beneficial' (awkward word order). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate more control over complex structures and reduce the frequency of basic grammatical errors, particularly regarding articles and verb patterns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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