Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-14

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, environmental degradation is a matter of great concern. Many people believe that recycling is an effective way to stop environmental harm. However, many people believe that consuming less is far better than recycling. I agree with the latter. This essay will discuss both the points with relevant examples.

To begin with, due to increasing population, waste generation has also been increased. The consumption of single-use plastics has caused land, water and air pollution. Recycling of such plastics is very beneficial as it not only reduces pollution but also gives many useful products, which can be used as packaging materials. Water retreatment plants are been setup in mega cities to clean the sewage water and make it suitable for gardening and many other procedures. Also, many recycled materials when combined with other materials during the processing stage, yield products that have greater physical strength. For example, in India, scientists experimented mixing concrete with recycled plastic, and they observed that the final product showed immense compressive strength than the concrete alone.

On the other hand, recycling procedures are not fully efficient because they generate wastes to certain levels. Moreover, recycling operations and plants are costlier to operate and maintain, and have lower efficiencies. So many people believe that instead of putting efforts in the recycling, care should be taken during usage of the resources. It is true, because certain natural resources like fossil fuels and water once exploited, take years to renew before they can be used again.

To conclude, people should wisely use the resources rather than depending on recycling them further. This is not only advantageous to them but also for the future generations to come, as they have a right for a better future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and clearly states a personal position. The ideas are relevant, such as the benefits of recycling for construction materials and the limitations of recycling efficiency. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument for consuming less is less detailed than the argument for recycling, which occupies the majority of the second paragraph. To reach a higher band, the discussion on 'consuming less' needs more specific examples or deeper analysis to match the depth provided for the recycling argument. Overall, the task is addressed, and the position is consistent throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied referencing. For instance, the link between the efficiency of recycling and the need to consume less could be more smoothly integrated to enhance the overall progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'environmental degradation', 'single-use plastics', and 'compressive strength'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'Water retreatment plants are been setup' (should be 'are being set up') and 'generate wastes to certain levels'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. Examples include 'waste generation has also been increased' (passive voice misuse), 'are been setup' (incorrect verb form), and 'showed immense compressive strength than the concrete alone' (incorrect comparative structure). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of comparative adjectives would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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