Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-30

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 5.5)

Nowadays, people are getting concious about concern for the environment with people coming up with different ideas to alleviate environmental problems. Some people choosing to recycle while other believe consuming less can be effective rather than just recycling. However, an integrated approach of combining both method could be a better solution.

Recycling always comes around when taking about environmental issues. Many countries have taken recycling policy as their main agenda to preserve environment. So, recycling can be a good idea for the issue we have at our hands. Recycling involves resuing of the materials that has been alerady used. For instance, the mineral water bottle, plasti bins which are recycled many times for the similar purpose. By doing so, it can solve the problem of producing another bottle or bin. However, keeping the safety and quality standards during recylcing process is critical.

On the other hand, there is a group of people who believes consumers need to consume less inorder to cope with environmental problems which is true in itself. Consuming can have broader sense here which generally means using the available resources and by consuming less means only using the required or neccessary amount without exploiting it. However, it has only became a topic of conversation instead of the action of consuming less. Chopping down the entire forest to build homes and make highways and airports is an exploitaion of the environment. The work which can be done without clearing whole forest is done without proper plan and management as a result we loose the whatever left of the nature. So, only using the required amount of resource should be taken as an utmost importance.

To conclude, both the ideas of recycling and consuming less have their own sides and are good solution in general. Nevertheless a combined effort of using both method to solve the environmental problem is more recommended.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both recycling and consuming less, while also presenting a clear personal opinion that an integrated approach is best. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the examples regarding mineral water bottles and plastic bins, as well as the discussion on forest clearing for highways. However, the development in places feels slightly repetitive or brief, such as the quick conclusion of the second body paragraph. The student successfully takes a clear stance throughout the essay, fulfilling the core requirements of Task Achievement at a Band 6.5 to 7.0 level. We award a band 6.5 here because while all parts are addressed, the depth of extension for the second view could be slightly more fully articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is logically organised into an introduction, two body paragraphs representing the two views, and a conclusion. There is a clear overall progression. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'However', 'For instance', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude', which helps guide the reader through the text. However, referencing and cohesion can occasionally feel somewhat mechanical or slightly faulty, such as 'The work which can be done without clearing whole forest is done without proper plan and management as a result we loose the whatever left of the nature.' Overall, the logical structure and manageable transitions justify a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student displays an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items like 'alleviate', 'integrated approach', and 'exploitation'. However, there are notable spelling and word-choice errors throughout the essay, including 'concious' instead of conscious, 'resuing' instead of reusing, 'plasti' instead of plastic, 'inorder' instead of in order, and 'loose' instead of lose. These errors do not generally impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score to a Band 6.0 because they show insufficient control over less common lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some ambitious structures like conditional and relative clauses ('The work which can be done without clearing whole forest...'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation issues, such as missing articles ('has taken recycling policy', 'preserve environment'), incorrect prepositions ('policy as their main agenda'), and run-on structures ('...proper plan and management as a result we loose the whatever left of the nature.'). These errors create some strain for the reader, placing the grammar performance firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range. A Band 6.0 is awarded as meaning is generally clear despite the recurring errors.

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