Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-31

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 7.0)

Certain people believe that there is not enough waste from homes being recycled and state that the only way that recycling can be increased is that if governments make it a legal requirement.

In my opinion, I believe this to be true and the following paragraphs will discuss my viewpoint on this argument.

Governments can significantly increase recycling rates by introducing legal penalties for households that fail to separate recyclable waste. Since many people are more motivated by consequences than voluntary campaigns, the threat of fines encourages them to develop consistent recycling habits. Over time, these habits can substantially reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, contributing to greater environmental sustainability.

Nevertheless, legislation alone is unlikely to solve the problem unless it is properly enforced. If recycling facilities are inaccessible or households are not educated about how to recycle correctly, simply introducing laws may have little effect. Therefore, governments should combine legal requirements with adequate infrastructure and public education.

In conclusion, I believe that legal requirements are an effective way to encourage more people to recycle because they create strong incentives to change behaviour. However, such laws should be supported by proper enforcement, accessible recycling facilities and public education to maximise their effectiveness.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the role of legislation in recycling. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement (204 words), which limits the depth of development. While the position is clear and the main arguments are relevant, the ideas are somewhat brief. To achieve a higher band, you need to expand your arguments with more detailed examples or hypothetical scenarios. For instance, you could discuss specific countries where such laws have been successful or elaborate on the socio-economic impact of fines. Because the length requirement was not met, the development of ideas is restricted, resulting in a lower score for this criterion.

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 some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Nevertheless', 'Therefore', and 'In conclusion'. However, because the essay is quite short, the overall structure feels a bit thin. To improve, ensure that your transitions between sentences are more varied and that you provide more substantial supporting sentences within each paragraph to enhance the flow of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'environmental sustainability', 'legal penalties', and 'consistent recycling habits'. The language is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic context. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'mandatory compliance', 'mitigate', or 'infrastructure investment', to show a greater degree of precision and flexibility in your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences effectively, such as 'If recycling facilities are inaccessible...'. There are very few grammatical errors, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The writing is clear and easy to read. To improve, you could experiment with more complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate a wider range of control over the language.

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