Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.

To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 4.5)

Is often debated whether laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste. While some might argue that the laws not important to make people recycle more of their waste, i personally believe that yes laws necessary for the people for make recycle more of their waste.

On the one hand, there are compelling reasons why the laws requires the community to recycle. The primary explanation for this is that many people do not care about the recycle becaus their are no strict lows regarding that if the government imposes a fine on people who do not support recycling everyone support that for example in my countrie the last year the govenment imoses a fine estimated at 20000 dinnar for anyone not support the recycling and the cause of that is everyone became support the recycle;

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

Your position is identifiable: you believe laws are necessary, and you give a relevant reason—that people may not recycle without consequences—plus a fine as an example. However, the response addresses the question only minimally. It develops just one supporting point and does not explain the extent to which laws are needed, consider other approaches, or provide a conclusion. The example is also difficult to assess because the explanation of its effect is incomplete. The response contains 119 words, which is 131 words below the required minimum; 19 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. To improve, develop at least two reasons, explain how each supports your position, and finish with a clear conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening states your view, and “On the one hand” introduces a supporting point. The example about a government fine also follows the general idea that penalties may encourage recycling. However, the response ends abruptly after a semicolon, with no second paragraph or conclusion, so the overall progression is incomplete. The opening’s contrast (“While some might argue…”) is not followed by a clear explanation of that opposing view, and the long supporting sentence combines several ideas without clear links. Use separate paragraphs for your position, reasons and example, and conclusion; connect each point with clear, accurate transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “recycle,” “government,” and “fine,” and the example makes your meaning partly understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repeated, especially “make people recycle more of their waste” and “support the recycling.” Some word choices and spelling errors make the message harder to follow, such as “lows,” “countrie,” and “dinnar.” Aim for more precise, natural phrases: for example, “impose a fine” rather than “imposes a fine on people,” and “encourage residents to recycle” rather than “support the recycling.” Check spelling carefully and vary key terms with suitable alternatives such as “household waste” and “recycling rates.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a complex opening with “While some might argue…,” and the main supporting sentence includes a conditional idea. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “Is often debated whether” lacks a clear subject, while “the laws not important” and “laws necessary” omit required verb forms. In “if the government imposes a fine … everyone support,” the conditional structure and verb agreement are faulty. The final sentence is also a run-on, joined by a semicolon without a complete, clearly punctuated structure. Practise accurate subject–verb patterns and complete sentences first, then build longer sentences using clear clauses and punctuation.

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