Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-09

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)

Both of these views are pivotal to save the environment as both focuses on indivual effort. People need to start recycling and shifting towards a more greener approach, consequently, they should also consume less to avoid wastage of resources. There should be a balance even though the first option seems slower and inefficient, however, in the long run, this approach is can save money and energy due to the convertibles. Less consumption can prevent wastages but people need to consume for their basic necessities. In my opinion, there should be a balance between both the approach. People should consume in accordance to their everyday need and also chose greener approach to their operations. I was born and raised in Dhaka, back then their was less pollution and wastage of resources, however, with the course of time, consumerism has shifted and pollution has skyrocketed. People back in the time knew how to use resources efficiently and smartly. I tend to manage my own finances and do budgeting and research before any purchase so that I can be efficient with my spending and not impulsivly consume. I purchase just as much as required. Often times I reuse or recycle by repeating clothes rather than buying different clothes everytime something flashy comes up in my feed. I prevent my instrusive thoughts from engulfing me by also eating food when I am hungry and food with the right amount of nutrients rather than eating junk just because there is a huge discount going on. Subsequently I have seen my friends always staying upto date with fashion and food by wasting a lot of resources, I think this detrimental because not that it's just going to cripple our economy but it will make the future generations resource deprived.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views by supporting recycling and reduced consumption, and your position—that people should balance the two—is clear. The personal examples about budgeting, reusing clothes and choosing food according to need make your opinion relevant and help illustrate how individuals can consume more carefully. However, the discussion of recycling itself is brief: you say it can save money and energy, but do not explain how or give a concrete example. The claim that recycling is “slower and inefficient” is also not clarified, so its relationship to the view in the prompt is difficult to follow. Develop each side more evenly, explain the reasoning behind your comparisons, and connect the Dhaka example more explicitly to the effects of consumption and recycling.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a discernible overall direction: it introduces both approaches, states a balanced opinion, and then gives personal examples. However, ideas are presented in one continuous paragraph, so the reader has little help distinguishing the discussion of the two views from your opinion and supporting examples. Some links are also awkward or unclear. For instance, “consequently” does not show a clear cause-and-effect relationship between recycling and consuming less, while “Subsequently” introduces an example about friends rather than a consequence. The opening sentence also combines several claims without a clear progression. Use separate paragraphs for the two views and your position, and choose linking expressions that accurately show contrast, cause, or example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic-related vocabulary, including “consumerism,” “pollution,” “resources,” “budgeting,” and “resource deprived.” These choices help communicate your concerns and personal examples. There are, however, several inaccurate or unnatural word choices and collocations that make parts of the argument less precise. “Convertibles” does not clearly express what recycling saves, and “a more greener approach” is not a natural form. Phrases such as “repeating clothes” and “intrusive thoughts” also do not convey the intended ideas clearly in this context. Spelling errors such as “indivual,” “impulsivly,” and “everytime” further reduce accuracy. Aim for precise environmental vocabulary and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including contrast clauses with “even though” and longer sentences explaining your habits. The main ideas are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. In “both focuses,” the plural subject requires a plural verb; “there was less pollution” is needed rather than “their was less pollution”; and “this approach is can save” contains an unnecessary verb. There are also problems with articles and number in “between both the approach,” and the sentence beginning “I think this detrimental” is missing a verb. Several long sentences join multiple ideas, making punctuation and sentence boundaries harder to control. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and verb forms, and divide sentences when they carry too many points.

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