Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-23

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 7.0)

Nowadays, environmental problems are becoming more serious, and many people are trying to recycle their waste. However, some people believe that recycling alone is not enough and that we should reduce the amount of things we consume. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I believe that reducing consumption is also necessary.

On the one hand, recycling is an effective way to protect the environment. Many materials, such as paper, glass, plastic and metal, can be reused instead of being thrown away. This helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and also saves natural resources. For example, recycling paper means that fewer trees need to be cut down. In addition, recycling can reduce the energy required to produce some goods from new materials. Therefore, encouraging people to recycle can make a significant difference to the environment.

On the other hand, recycling cannot solve all environmental problems because people continue to buy and use large quantities of products. The production and transportation of these products often require energy and natural resources and can create pollution. For instance, buying new clothes frequently can increase waste because unwanted clothes are often thrown away. Similarly, excessive use of plastic products creates a large amount of waste, even if some of it can later be recycled.

In my opinion, both recycling and reducing consumption are important, but people should first try to consume less. If people buy only what they really need, there will be less waste to recycle in the first place. Simple actions, such as using reusable shopping bags, repairing old items and avoiding unnecessary purchases, can help reduce pressure on the environment.

In conclusion, recycling is an important way of dealing with environmental problems, but it is not sufficient on its own. Reducing unnecessary consumption is equally important because it can prevent waste and pollution before they are created.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the view that recycling is crucial and the view that consuming less is necessary. A clear position is established in the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as paper recycling and buying new clothes. The arguments are logical and extend naturally into the conclusion. The response meets all the requirements for Task Achievement at a high level, demonstrating a strong understanding of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the body paragraphs discussing recycling and consumption, and finally to the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the text is easy to follow and coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, with accurate use of collocation and phrasing such as 'natural resources', 'landfills', 'excessive use', and 'unnecessary purchases'. While the vocabulary is generally precise and effective, it relies somewhat on standard terms rather than a wide range of less common lexical items, which prevents it from reaching the highest bands. However, the choices made are natural, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer employs a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('If people buy only what they really need...') and subordinate clauses, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. The majority of sentences are error-free, and any minor slips do not impede communication. The control over tense and agreement is consistent throughout the essay. This performance aligns comfortably with the descriptors for Band 7, reflecting solid command with occasional minor limitations.

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

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