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)

The issue of environment has become significantly important. While some people believe that only recyling is enough, others contend that less should be consumed by us. This essay will examine both perspectives before reaching a conclusion.

The environment is in a dangerous position because of extreme pollution and plastic products. Although, many countries are attempting to recycle plastic products, not all can be recycled. A recent study has shown that people are using 14 million tons of plastic products everyday that cannot be recycled and plastic needs approximately 400 years to decompose. Recycle is also an expensive process. For instance, regions are throwing trush into space and oceans which is causing severe food poisoning in marine creatures. This is not only harming marine animals but also humans by causing them cancer as they consume marine creatures regularly such as prone,lobstar and other fishes.

Although, if we use alternatives and reduce the usage of plastic products this problem can be solved pretty effortlessly. For instance, government of japan has introduced bags and other products made of bambo fiber instead of plastic. Citizens of Japan are actively avoiding the usage of plasic and similar products which takes hundreds of years to decompose. Consequently, they don`t have to throw vast used items in space and occean which keeps the quality of seafood more healthy. Another example of this can be seen in California where plastic is banned. Instead , they are using goods made of jute which decompose in soil very quickly.As a resullt, they are not running out of storage for trash and not harming the environment.

In conclusion, cosuming less or using alternative products are much better way than reclying as not all goods can be recycled.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a clear preference for reducing consumption and using alternatives, especially in the conclusion. The examples about plastic that cannot be recycled and alternatives such as bamboo and jute are relevant to the environmental issue. However, the discussion is uneven: the first body paragraph focuses on the harms of plastic and the cost of recycling, rather than explaining the case for recycling itself. Some claims, such as the effects on human health, are asserted without enough explanation, and the examples about Japan and California need clearer support. Develop each side more directly, then explain why your preferred approach is more effective.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate body paragraphs and a conclusion. The progression from the limitations of recycling to reducing plastic use is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “For instance” and “Consequently” help signal examples and results. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. The opening “Although” in the second body paragraph does not connect smoothly to the preceding point, and “they” in the California example has an unclear reference. The conclusion also introduces “using alternative products” without fully tying this back to the two views. Use more precise referencing and make the relationship between each example and its main point explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “recycle,” “decompose,” “marine creatures,” “alternatives” and “storage for trash,” so the reader can follow the environmental focus. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “severe food poisoning” and “bamboo fiber.” However, spelling errors and awkward word choices are noticeable, including “recyling,” “trush,” “plasic,” “occean” and “resullt.” Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “the issue of environment” and “throw vast used items.” These slips sometimes make the meaning less clear. Check spelling carefully and learn common collocations, for example “environmental issues,” “dispose of waste” and “reduce plastic consumption.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “because,” “which” and “although,” and the overall meaning is usually understandable. Some sentence forms are controlled, such as “This is not only harming marine animals but also humans.” However, errors in sentence construction and punctuation recur. “Although, many countries…” uses a subordinate conjunction without a suitable main-clause connection, while “Although, if we use alternatives…” combines two linking structures awkwardly. There are also problems with articles and agreement in “a much better way,” and punctuation spacing is inconsistent. Practise building complex sentences with one clear main clause, and check articles, subject–verb agreement and comma use during revision.

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