Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-27
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 6.5)
The pollution of the environment is a growing concern in recent times. People are trying to find ways to heal the environment and restore the balance of nature. The idea of recycling is getting popular but some argue that it is not enough. We should also focus on consuming less. I agree with the statement that along with recycling we should focus on less consumerism.
Since the industrial revolution our action has caused great harm to the environment. Many species of fauna and flora became extinct. The temperature is rising, ice is melting on the polar region. However, people are growing to show concern about nature. They are trying to find ways to reduce environment pollution. One popular practice in this regard is recycling. Instead of using new raw materials for production they are using the same material to make new products. For example, used plastic bottles are being recycled to produce different plastic items. This action is very helpful to reduce pollution.
However, recycling alone can not solve the problem. There are more things to do. Less consumption could be another useful way to reduce pollution as well as restore nature. Natural resources are being destroyed due to enormous consumer demands. In this fast changing world people buy more products than they need. They buy things only to cope with the latest fashion. For example, teenagers will buy too many dresses only to wear once or twice. people tend to buy latest models of electronic gadgets, even though the one they already own is not too old. That is irresponsible consumerism. Just to make one product many natural resources are used. So we should use the product as much as possible before buying a new one. Thus, less natural resources will be spend.
In another way, if people try to consume less then nature will get time to regrow, less pollution will occur. For instance, if we use clothes made from bamboo fiber for one year, it will be possible to grow the same number of bamboo within this time that took to make the cloth. This way, there will be a balance between consumption and supply of the raw material.
Some may argue that this changed consumer behavior will be detrimental to economy. While it is undeniable that economy will suffer but sustainable economic practices will benefit us in the long run.
In conclusion, it is important to recycle our used items to reduce environment pollution but at the same time this action will not be able to provide any significant change. Less consumerism along with recycling could bring expected changes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
You address both views and state your position clearly: recycling is useful, but it should be accompanied by reduced consumption. The discussion of recycling explains how used bottles can become new products, while the consumerism section gives relevant examples involving clothing and electronic gadgets. These examples make the argument concrete. The response also acknowledges the counterargument that reduced consumption could harm the economy and answers it by referring to long-term sustainability. However, the recycling view is developed less fully than the case for consuming less, and some claims—such as the bamboo-fibre example—are not clearly explained or supported. To strengthen the response, compare the two approaches more directly and develop the economic counterargument with a specific reason or example.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate discussion of recycling and reduced consumption, a counterargument, and a conclusion. Paragraphs generally have a central focus, and signposts such as “However,” “For example,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the progression. This gives the response a coherent arrangement. At times, though, connections feel mechanical or the relationship between ideas is not fully clear. For instance, “In another way” introduces a point that largely repeats the previous paragraph, and the bamboo example does not clearly show how using a garment for a year allows the raw material to regrow. Improve cohesion by making each paragraph advance a distinct point and using clearer links between claims and examples, rather than relying mainly on familiar transition phrases.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “raw materials,” “consumer demands,” “sustainable economic practices,” and “restore nature.” These choices help communicate the environmental argument, and the examples of fashion and electronic gadgets show some flexibility in discussing consumption. There are also several imprecise or unnatural expressions, such as “heal the environment,” “people are growing to show concern,” and “expected changes.” Repetition of “pollution,” “nature,” and “products” also limits precision. Aim for more natural collocations and a wider selection of terms, such as “environmental damage,” “increasingly concerned,” and “meaningful improvements.” Check word forms and spelling as well: “consumerism” is more suitable than “consumer demands” in some contexts, and “environmental” is preferable to “environment” before “pollution.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including contrast clauses (“While it is undeniable that economy will suffer…”) and conditional structures (“if people try to consume less…”). Most sentences remain understandable, and the grammar errors do not generally obstruct the argument. Some errors persist in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “Many species … became extinct” shifts awkwardly from the present-perfect context; “less natural resources will be spend” has an incorrect verb form; and “While it is undeniable that economy will suffer but…” combines two contrasting structures incorrectly. There are also missing articles in phrases such as “on the polar region.” Review these patterns and proofread for complete, correctly linked clauses to improve accuracy while retaining your range.
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