Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-29

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 7.5)

There is growing public concern about environmental degradation, and recycling has consequently become a common way of reducing the amount of waste produced. However, some argue that recycling alone cannot adequately address environmental problems and that people should instead reduce their overall consumption. While recycling undoubtedly has an important role to play, I believe that consuming less is ultimately a more effective way of reducing environmental pressure.

On the one hand, recycling can make a substantial contribution to environmental protection by preventing reusable materials from ending up in landfills. Paper, glass, metal and certain plastics can be processed and incorporated into new products, thereby reducing the demand for virgin raw materials. This not only limits the amount of waste that must be disposed of but can also reduce the environmental damage associated with extracting and processing natural resources. For example, recycling aluminium requires considerably fewer resources than producing it from newly extracted raw materials. Consequently, widespread recycling can make production systems more resource-efficient.

On the other hand, reducing consumption addresses environmental problems at an earlier stage. Even if a product is eventually recycled, its manufacture, transportation and use may already have consumed considerable amounts of energy and raw materials. Furthermore, not all discarded products can be recycled efficiently, meaning that excessive consumption inevitably generates some waste that cannot be recovered. For instance, purchasing new clothes frequently creates demand for additional production, whereas buying fewer, durable garments can reduce resource use and waste from the outset. In this respect, reducing unnecessary consumption can have a broader environmental impact than simply managing waste after it has been generated.

In my view, the two approaches should not be regarded as mutually exclusive. Recycling is an essential component of responsible waste management, but it should complement, rather than substitute for, efforts to consume less. If people continue purchasing unnecessary goods in large quantities on the assumption that these items can simply be recycled later, the underlying problem of excessive resource consumption will remain largely unresolved. A more sustainable approach would therefore involve reducing unnecessary purchases while recycling materials whenever possible.

In conclusion, recycling can conserve resources and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, but it cannot fully compensate for the environmental consequences of excessive consumption. I therefore believe that reducing unnecessary consumption should be prioritised, with recycling serving as an important complementary measure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—the importance of recycling and the necessity of consuming less—while clearly stating and maintaining their own position throughout the response. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as comparing the extraction of raw materials for aluminium to the purchase of durable garments. The progression of thought is clear and persuasive, satisfying all requirements of the prompt at a high level. Descriptors for Band 8 are fully met, as all parts of the task are covered well with well-developed ideas and only rare minor omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The response demonstrates a high level of coherence and cohesion. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving seamlessly from the introduction to distinct body paragraphs analysing recycling and reduced consumption, followed by a nuanced synthesis and a clear conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Consequently' are managed well to guide the reader through the argument without being obtrusive. This reflects the Band 8 descriptor for logical sequencing and well-managed cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student exhibits a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic essay. Uncommon vocabulary items are used skilfully and naturally, such as 'environmental degradation', 'resource-efficient', 'mutually exclusive', and 'underlying problem'. Word choices and collocations are generally accurate, with only rare minor instances of phrasing that could be slightly more polished. The vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings smoothly and effectively, aligning well with the criteria for Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of control and flexibility. Sentences such as conditional clauses ('Even if a product is eventually recycled...') and multi-clause complex arguments are constructed accurately. The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, and any punctuation or syntactic slips are extremely rare and non-systematic. Grammar does not impede communication at any point, demonstrating the solid command of grammar expected at Band 8.

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