Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-21

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)

Concern of Environment in our society is inevitable to avoid. Always a threat due to glabal warming, soil erosion, non-degradable plastic is present on our planet due to our bad lifestyle. Use of plastic is increasing propotionaly since the discovery of plastic. It has become an easy source of manufacturing among the industries and the users as well. Things, used to be build in Metal (Steel, Iron, Wood etc) are now manufactured in plastic. plastic has become our most usable materials nowadays.We always have something with us made up of plastic. Even I'm typing this on a keyboard made of plastic. So it is everywhere.

This extreme has been identified, observed and suggested by the 2nd type of people who think we need to consume less. Although it's not humanly possible on a large scale as human population is increasing at a great pace & our dependence & utility with plastic is also increasing. So I'm not really seeing the solution of consuming less can be feasible very soon.

But the first group of people, who think that more & more people should choose to recycle are heading to a good solution overall for the society. Because it has been seen previously that by recycling continously, a balance can be maintained between consuming and the manufacturing.

For Example, In most of the west countries, governments have encouraged people to recycle by starting a scheme where you get some extra money for recycling the recyclables. They have installed different labelled storage bins on different locations. People normally approach these bins, sort their items and put them into their respective bins & get some money instantly. Then, after a time interval, Recycled material is extracted & transported to a large storage, where it is recycled into usable & worthy material. So it's a win-win situation for environment and ultimately ourselves.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both recycling and reducing consumption, and your position is discernible: you favour recycling as the more practical solution at present. The example of deposit-style recycling schemes also gives the discussion a relevant real-world illustration. However, the two views are not developed evenly. The case for consuming less is dismissed mainly because population and plastic use are increasing, without considering how reduced consumption could lower waste or demand for production. The recycling argument also relies on a broad claim that it maintains a balance between consumption and manufacturing, which needs explanation or evidence. To strengthen the response, explain the benefits and limitations of each approach, then state more explicitly whether both are needed or one should take priority.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: it introduces the environmental problem, considers reduced consumption, presents recycling as preferable, and gives an example. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages. However, progression is not consistently clear, and the opening spends considerable space describing plastic before directly framing the two views. Some links are mechanical or imprecise, such as “But the first group” and “So it’s a win-win situation,” while repeated use of “So” and “Because” makes connections feel basic. The example’s steps are understandable, but the long explanation could be organised more clearly. Use a focused introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion that draws the comparison together; make each paragraph’s main point explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “global warming,” “soil erosion,” “recycling,” “manufacturing,” and “storage bins,” and the example shows an attempt to describe a practical process. However, the range is limited by repeated general words such as “people,” “plastic,” and “things,” and several choices or collocations are inaccurate: “Concern of Environment,” “non-degradable plastic,” “usable and worthy material,” and “west countries.” Spelling errors such as “glabal,” “propotionaly,” and “continously” are noticeable and reduce precision. Aim for more exact environmental terms and check spelling and collocations. For instance, “non-biodegradable plastic” and “reusable materials” would express the intended meanings more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer structures, including “Although it’s not humanly possible … as human population is increasing” and the sequence describing how recycled material is processed. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in sentence formation, agreement, articles, and punctuation sometimes make the reader pause. The opening fragment, “Concern of Environment in our society is inevitable to avoid,” does not form a clear complete sentence. Other examples include “Things, used to be build” and “a balance can be maintained between consuming and the manufacturing.” Capitalisation and spacing are also inconsistent, as in “plastic” after a full stop and “nowadays.We.” Practise building accurate complete sentences first, then use subordinate clauses and clearer punctuation to add complexity.

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