Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-15

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)

People have different views about recycling. Some people choose to recycle more frequently while some individuals think that recycling is not enough to make the environment clean so we should rather consume less whereas I believe that both the ideas should have balance, items should be recycled too however some that we know can not be recycled should be avoided to buy.

On the one hand, people are choosing to recycle more due to the environment concerns. This recyling procedure can benefit in reducing the garbage as if it not used again then a seperate place would be found to keep that garbage which can also result in many dieases and insects due to the germs factora and affect our health. For instance, In some Asian countries garbage is burned due to the less resources for recycling. This results in air pollution which can affect the environment.

On the other hand, some believe that food or items should be consumed less to prevent the dirtiness since recycling is not enough. The reason for this thought is that some items like ceramic, sytroforms or other household or commercial items can not be recycled which bring the end result for not buying such products. These items if are recycled can have a chance to affect the machines due to which the risk is not taken. For example, shopkeepers consume more plastic bags than others due to the product selling. This results in negative as plastic bags are not mostly recyled to to which it increases the concern for environment.

In conclusion, some people carry mindset of recycling the items more often while some think recycling is not only enough, less consuption of those items would help environment to have positive outcome whereas I believe that both the thoughts should have balance in between and involve recycling along with the knowledge of buying less products which can not be reused.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state a clear position: recycling should continue, but people should also avoid buying items that cannot be reused. The two body paragraphs give relevant reasons, including waste disposal, pollution from burning rubbish, and the difficulty of recycling some materials. However, some points are not fully explained or are unclear. For example, the claim that unrecycled garbage causes disease and insects needs a clearer link to the benefits of recycling, while the discussion of ceramic and foam products could explain more precisely why reducing their use is preferable. The example about shopkeepers and plastic bags is relevant but would be stronger with a specific consequence or detail. Develop these ideas more fully and make the supporting examples more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion that restates your position. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the discussion. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and several sentences contain too many linked ideas. The opening sentence, for instance, moves from the two views to your opinion and a qualification without clear breaks. In the second body paragraph, “These items if are recycled…” is difficult to connect smoothly to the preceding point. Use shorter sentences where ideas change, and make references such as “these items” and “this results” more explicit so the relationships between claims are always clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “recycle,” “garbage,” “air pollution,” “household or commercial items,” and “environment.” This gives you enough language to communicate the main ideas, but the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which can make meaning less clear. For example, “consume less” is more naturally applied to products or resources than to “food or items” in this context, and “carry mindset” is not idiomatic. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “recyling,” “seperate,” “dieases,” “sytroforms,” and “consuption.” Build a more precise set of topic phrases and check spelling carefully; this will make your arguments clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while,” “which,” and “due to,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, some complex sentences are not controlled successfully. In the introduction, several clauses are joined into one sentence, making the structure difficult to follow. There are also errors in clause formation and word order, as in “These items if are recycled,” and missing or misplaced grammatical elements in phrases such as “if it not used again” and “due to the less resources.” Punctuation around long sentences also needs attention. Practise building complex sentences with one clear main clause and check verb forms, articles, and clause order before combining ideas.

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.