Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-10

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)

In many countries, a large amount of household waste is still sent to landfill rather than being recycled. Some people argue that the most effective way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement. I partly agree with this view because laws can encourage people to recycle, but education, convenient recycling facilities and financial incentives are also essential.

There are several reasons why legislation can be effective in increasing recycling rates. Firstly, many people are unlikely to change their behaviour unless there are clear rules and consequences for failing to follow them. If households were legally required to separate recyclable materials from general waste, recycling could become a normal part of everyday life. Governments could also introduce fines for repeatedly failing to comply with recycling regulations. For example, local authorities could require residents to place paper, glass and plastic in separate containers and impose penalties on households that consistently ignore these rules. Such measures would create a strong incentive for people to recycle more regularly.

However, laws alone are unlikely to solve the problem. One major reason is that people may not recycle if appropriate facilities are unavailable or inconvenient. Governments should therefore provide clearly labelled recycling bins and regular collection services so that recycling is easy for households. In addition, public education can help people understand the environmental consequences of excessive waste and the benefits of recycling. Financial incentives could also be effective. For instance, governments could offer discounts or small rewards to households that recycle a high proportion of their waste. These measures may encourage people to recycle because they understand its benefits rather than simply because they fear punishment.

In my opinion, legislation is necessary to some extent, particularly when voluntary efforts fail to produce sufficient results. Nevertheless, governments should combine legal requirements with education, convenient facilities and incentives. This approach would be more effective than relying solely on fines or other forms of punishment.

In conclusion, laws can play an important role in increasing household recycling, but they should not be considered the only solution. A combination of legislation, public awareness and accessible recycling services is more likely to produce lasting changes in people's behaviour.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, providing a balanced view by acknowledging the potential benefits of legislation while effectively arguing for a multi-faceted approach involving education and infrastructure. Each paragraph is focused, and the examples provided, such as the mention of local authorities imposing penalties and the use of financial incentives, are relevant and support your main points well. The conclusion effectively synthesises your arguments without introducing new information, demonstrating a clear and consistent development of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the transition between the arguments for legislation and the counter-arguments for alternative measures is smooth, using cohesive devices like 'However' and 'In addition' effectively. The use of referencing is precise, and the paragraphing is logical, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and the cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through your argument without being repetitive or mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases such as 'legal requirement', 'consistently ignore', 'environmental consequences', and 'lasting changes' show a solid command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it could be elevated further by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision and clarity, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional sentences ('If households were legally required...') and subordinate clauses ('...because they understand its benefits rather than simply because they fear punishment'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the control over verb tenses and modal verbs is consistent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence, which allows for clear and sophisticated expression of your arguments.

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