Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-03

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)

Concern for the environment has increased considerably, and many people now recycle household waste. However, some argue that recycling alone is insufficient and that people should reduce their consumption. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why i believe consuming less is more effective solution.

On one hand, recycling provides several important environmental benefits. It reduces the amount of rubbish sent to landfills and decreases the need to extract new raw materials. For example, recycling papers can help save trees, while recycling aluminium requires less energy than producing it from newly mining ore. In addition, recycling encourages people to think carefully about waste and develop more responsible habits. If government provide separate bins and efficient collection systems, recycling can significant reduce pollution.

On the other hand, recycling cannot solve the entire problem because it still requires energy, water and transportation. Moreover, not every material can be recycled indefinitely. Many plastic products are difficult to process, and some are contaminated be food and chemicals. Therefore, simply buying large quantities of products and recycling their packaging does not prevent environmental damage. The production and transportation of these goods may already have consumed considerable energy and created greenhouse-gas emission.

In my opinion, reducing consumption should be first priority, while recycling should support it. People can make a difference by purchasing durable products, avoiding unnecessary packaging, repairing damage item and using reusable bags and bottles.

In conclusion, recycling is valuable because it reduces waste and conserve energy. Nevertheless, consuming lee is more effective because it prevent waste and pollution at their source.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the importance of recycling and the argument for reduced consumption. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of aluminium mining and the practical steps for reducing consumption. To reach a higher band, ensure that the development of the 'recycling' argument is balanced with the 'consumption' argument, as the latter is slightly more developed. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a clear, consistent viewpoint.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore', to transition between ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two perspectives. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between sentences is generally clear. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'it' in the second paragraph could be more clearly linked to its antecedent. Overall, the flow of information is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision, using terms like 'insufficient', 'raw materials', 'indefinitely', and 'greenhouse-gas emission'. There are some minor errors in word form, such as 'newly mining ore' (should be 'newly mined') and 'repairing damage item' (should be 'damaged items'). These errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common idiomatic expressions to show greater flexibility in your lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, which is positive. However, there are some recurring grammatical slips, such as 'If government provide' (should be 'If the government provides') and 'consuming lee' (typo for 'less'). Additionally, 'can significant reduce' should be 'can significantly reduce'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your argument. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement will help elevate your score in this criterion.

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