Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Concern for the environment is indeed growing among the mass people. People are becoming increasingly conscious that the environment is being polluted to a large extent. Despite this increased consciousness, little is being done to mitigate this issue.

Recycling has been a popular concept among people. Even recycling has been taught in schools and included in textbooks. So yes, many people are for recycling without even knowing most of the details. If we see the positive sides, yes recycling is necessary. If wastes are burned instead of being recycled, then the air is polluted. So recycling is always a good option.

But some people provide the counter logic that, if we consume less, less waste is produced. So consuming less should also be a target besides recycling. Recycling alone is not enough.

In my opinion, I agree with the second point of view. There are a couple of reasons. Firstly, we are responsible for what we do. And secondly, if we don't dispose waste properly how much recycling is done we will be in a never ending loop of suffering. Yes I agree that people need to consume foods and goods. But people need to be also aware of the shopping bags they are using, for example - not using any polythene or plastic bags as they are not easily disposable.

If I speak about my experience, I would say I try to consume and dispose materials in an environment friendly manner. Most of the shops in my neighbourhood have prohibited the use of polythenes and are using cotton shopping bags. So I agree that even though recycling is necessary, we have to consume and dispose things in a friendly manner. We have to raise consciousness on the second point of view as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both recycling and reducing consumption, and your position is clear: you agree that consuming less is also necessary. The examples about avoiding plastic bags and shops using cotton bags help make your view relevant. However, the two sides are not developed equally. The recycling paragraph mainly says it is necessary and that burning waste pollutes the air; it would be stronger with a fuller explanation of how recycling conserves resources or reduces landfill. Your reasons for consuming less are also broad, particularly “we are responsible for what we do,” and the link between improper disposal and recycling is not fully explained. Develop each main point with a specific cause, consequence, or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on recycling, a contrasting paragraph on consumption, and a conclusion that restates your view. Signposting such as “But,” “In my opinion,” and “Firstly” helps readers follow the discussion. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The sequence “Firstly… And secondly…” does not lead to two clearly explained reasons, and “if we don't dispose waste properly how much recycling is done” is difficult to follow. The final paragraph repeats the conclusion rather than adding a distinct final insight. Use clearer links between each claim and its explanation, and make pronouns and conditional relationships explicit so the progression feels more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “recycling,” “polluted,” “dispose,” and “environment friendly,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “mitigate this issue” and “counter logic.” However, several expressions are unnatural or imprecise, including “among the mass people,” “provide the counter logic,” and “a never ending loop of suffering.” Repetition of “people,” “consume,” and “recycling” also limits the range. Choose more natural collocations and use precise terms for the environmental effects you mean. For example, specify whether waste increases landfill, resource use, or pollution rather than relying on broad phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple and complex forms, including conditional sentences such as “If wastes are burned instead of being recycled, then the air is polluted” and a relative clause in “bags as they are not easily disposable.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems are noticeable. For example, “if we consume less, less waste is produced” needs clearer punctuation around the introductory clause, while “if we don't dispose waste properly how much recycling is done” lacks a clear structure and is difficult to interpret. “People need to be also aware” has awkward adverb placement, and “we have to consume foods and goods” is not formed naturally in context. Practise accurate conditional clauses and review sentence boundaries and word order.

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