Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-12
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 5.0)
Air-pollution is now increasing day by day, the only way to get ride of it is the recycling process. But its only possible if the government make it a legal requirement for all the citizens.
As the increasing population is affecting our Earth in many ways but the most harmful affect is the increasing waste from our homes. Its not only making our environment dirty but it also have many hazardous affects on our health so for that purpose we must take it serious and keep our enviornment clean.
First of all, the most important thing is that our government make it a legal requirement for every society to throw the waste at proper dumping sites as the government already specified it.
And than take that waste to the proper recycling site. There are already many laws but the only need is to implement these laws so everyone should follow it. But if needed government make new laws like to fine the societies or a home if they are not following the rules and if they are not throwing wastes at the proper sites to overcome that problem.
On the other side government also take necessary actions to that industries which are still making plastic shoppers which is the biggest proportion of our wastes and its also stopped our sewerage lines. The last most important thing is that its not only the governments responsibility to recycle that waste but its also our responsibility to keep our environment clean and to place our wastes in the specified drums.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the role of government legislation in recycling. However, the development of ideas is limited. While you mention the need for laws and fines, the arguments lack depth and specific examples. The essay focuses heavily on general waste management rather than specifically addressing the 'extent' to which laws are needed. To improve, you should provide a more balanced view, perhaps discussing the limitations of legislation or the role of public education, and ensure your position is clearly maintained throughout the essay. The current structure is somewhat repetitive, and the arguments remain at a surface level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression between ideas is sometimes weak. You use basic cohesive devices like 'First of all' and 'On the other side', but the transitions between sentences are occasionally abrupt. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'for that purpose', which does not clearly link back to a specific antecedent. The paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by supporting evidence. Overall, the flow is functional but lacks sophisticated linking.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'get ride of it' (get rid of), 'plastic shoppers' (plastic bags), and 'hazardous affects' (hazardous effects). You rely on a limited set of vocabulary, and some terms are used incorrectly in context. To reach a higher band, focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary related to environmental issues, such as 'mandatory', 'enforcement', or 'sustainable practices'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('government make it', 'it also have'), incorrect verb forms ('government also take'), and punctuation errors. While you attempt complex sentences, they are often faulty, which limits your score in this criterion. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions. Proofreading for common errors like 'its' versus 'it's' would also significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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