Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-27
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 6.5)
Some people think that governments should make recycling a law because many people do not recycle enough waste from their homes. I partly agree with this opinion.
On the one hand, laws can help increase recycling. Some people do not recycle because they are lazy or do not think it is important. If there are fines or other punishments, they may start recycling. For example, in some countries, people must separate plastic, paper, and food waste. As a result, more waste is recycled, and the environment becomes cleaner.
On the other hand, I do not think that laws are the only answer. Many people do not recycle because they do not have enough information or there are not enough recycling bins. Governments should teach people why recycling is important and make recycling easy. For example, schools can educate students, and cities can provide more recycling bins in public places.
In my opinion, governments should use both laws and education. Laws can make people follow the rules, while education helps them understand the benefits of recycling. When people know why recycling is important, they are more likely to do it willingly.
In conclusion, I believe that laws are useful for increasing recycling, but they should be used together with public education and better recycling facilities. This is the best way to reduce waste and protect the environment.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the role of legislation and the importance of education. The position is clear throughout. However, the response is under the 250-word minimum requirement (226 words), which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples—for instance, by explaining the specific impact of fines or detailing how educational programs have successfully changed behavior in a real-world context. The under-length nature of the essay prevents a higher score for task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' effectively. To improve, you could incorporate a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to create a more sophisticated flow between sentences and paragraphs, rather than relying on standard, repetitive structures.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use topic-specific terms like 'recycling', 'waste', 'fines', and 'public facilities'. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on fairly common, simple language. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise, academic vocabulary and collocations. For example, instead of saying 'make recycling a law', you could use 'mandate recycling through legislation'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay demonstrates a good level of grammatical control. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'If there are fines or other punishments, they may start recycling.' The sentences are generally error-free, and your punctuation is accurate. While the grammar is reliable, it lacks the complexity and variety required for higher bands. To improve, try to integrate more advanced structures, such as passive voice constructions or conditional sentences with more varied tenses, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already achieved.
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