Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-26

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 7.5)

2) educate people. in schools. have some educational seminars or government . instead of using a complete fearful approach, shift the narrative to make ppl understand how it will be beneficial for them. instead of throwing things away transforming them for a newer purpose= more money saved.

There are increasing concerns about environmental sustainability these days. Many believe that the core issue is waste from households not being recycled and the solution is to enforce strict recycling laws. I firmly believe that in order to increase recycling laws alone aren't enough; a multifaceted approach is necessary.

Fine laws can be helpful in increasing the practice of recycling. But it is important to understand that fines will not make people understand why a linear economy is bad, but rather people will recycle products because of the fear of penalty. People will try to find ways to escape punishment and the core problem will still remain. This is why I believe that on surface-level legal requirements for recycling can definitely help reduce pollution but it does not make the public understand why recycling is necessary.

I believe that it is necessary to introduce some public awareness events along with laws. Governments should organise educational seminars on the topic of recycling; they should also install public recycling bins on every street corner to make collecting and recycling items like soda cans easier. The topic of recycling should be introduced in curriculums so children can practice recycling in their homes. Posters and advertisements can be extremely helpful to educate people and increase awareness because people are more likely to be exposed to such things in everyday life. Additionally, the most effective approach is to introduce benefits for people who recycle often. For example, charging households less for trash pick-up if they recycle more. People will be more likely to adopt recycling practices if they can directly benefit from it.

Conclusively, while laws can be slightly effective in encouraging household waste, these are not effective as a permanent solution. A nuanced approach is needed such as integration of recycling awareness in school curriculums, government awareness programs and benefits for those who recycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that while laws are helpful, they are insufficient on their own. The argument is well-developed, offering specific alternatives like educational seminars, school curriculum integration, and financial incentives. The ideas are relevant and supported by logical reasoning. The initial paragraph appears to be a draft or outline that was accidentally included; however, the subsequent essay is coherent and fully addresses the task requirements. The position is consistent throughout the main body of the text.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the limitations of legal enforcement and the benefits of educational and incentive-based approaches. Cohesive devices like 'Additionally', 'For example', and 'Conclusively' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is appropriate, though the inclusion of the initial bulleted outline at the start of the text is a minor distraction. Overall, the flow of ideas is smooth and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and generally appropriate for the task. The student uses terms like 'environmental sustainability', 'linear economy', 'multifaceted approach', and 'nuanced approach' effectively. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly. While the range is not exceptionally sophisticated, it demonstrates a good command of topic-specific language that allows for clear communication of complex ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are minor punctuation slips, such as the fragmented sentences in the opening outline, but the main essay body is grammatically sound. The use of complex structures, such as 'People will be more likely to adopt recycling practices if they can directly benefit from it', shows a good level of control. Errors are infrequent and do not impede communication.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.