Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-13

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 6.0)

Nowadays, there is an increase in environmental issues more than ever before. Some people are considering to recycle, while others believe that recycling alone would not be enough, we should reduce consumption. In this essay, I will discuss both sides before presenting my opinion.

On one hand, advocates of recycling think that people should promote sustainability by recycling materials. Some plastics are not degradable, they should be collected and transformed into the new products. In this way, we can protect our climate from pollution, as polyethene bags dumped into the soil, cause infertility of the land. Moreover, if plastics are thrown in seas or rivers, it can lead to the water pollution, affecting the aquatic life.

On the other hand, opponents argue that we should consume less, as recycling alone would not be sufficient to control the climate change. For example, a few natural resources like coal, petroleum, and natural gas are non-renewable. Such resources will be vanished, if not used in a limit and our future generations will suffer with lack of valuable energy resources. People should use public transport rather than their personal cars, as it will reduce the fuel consumption, leading to reduce the air pollution by decreasing the emission of gases and carbon foot print.

In my opinion, people should focus on both, recycling as well as reducing the usage to maximize the benefits. Recycling will help in conservation of resources like using the waste water to produce electric energy or recycling paper to decreased use of wood for paper making. In contrast, less consumption of fuel will help to control issues like the air pollution. Consequently, we will be able to address growing concerns about climate change and save resources for future generations more efficiently.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the importance of recycling and the argument for reduced consumption. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the mention of non-renewable resources like coal and petroleum. However, the development of these ideas could be more nuanced. For instance, while you mention that recycling helps protect the climate, you could further explain the link between waste management and carbon emissions to reach a higher band. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each view, and a concluding opinion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', and 'In contrast' to guide the reader. While the progression is generally clear, some transitions are slightly mechanical. For example, the sentence 'Some plastics are not degradable, they should be collected...' is a comma splice that disrupts the flow. Improving the use of punctuation and subordinating conjunctions would enhance the cohesion of your arguments significantly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'sustainability', 'non-renewable', and 'emission'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'will be vanished' (should be 'will vanish' or 'will be depleted') and 'in a limit' (should be 'in a limited way' or 'in moderation'). Additionally, 'decreased use of wood' could be phrased more naturally as 'reducing the demand for timber'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'Some people are considering to recycle' (should be 'considering recycling'), 'polyethene bags dumped into the soil, cause infertility' (unnecessary comma), and 'leading to reduce the air pollution' (should be 'leading to a reduction in' or 'helping to reduce'). These errors do not impede communication, but they are noticeable and occur throughout the text, preventing a higher score in this criterion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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