Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-14

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)

Household waste has become an increasingly serious environmental problem, and recycling is one of the most effective ways of reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. While some people argue that governments must make recycling compulsory by law, I believe that legislation can play an important role, but it should be combined with education, convenient recycling facilities and financial incentives.

There are strong reasons why governments should introduce laws requiring households to recycle. First and foremost, voluntary participation is unlikely to be sufficient because many people prioritise convenience over environmental responsibility. If recycling is legally required, individuals may be obliged to separate materials such as paper, glass, metal and plastic instead of disposing of everything together. Governments could also impose modest penalties on households that repeatedly ignore these regulations.

However, simply making recycling a legal obligation does not guarantee that people will recycle effectively. One major obstacle is a lack of convenient infrastructure. If households are expected to separate their rubbish but do not have access to clearly labelled recycling bins or regular collection services, even well-intentioned citizens may find compliance difficult. In addition, excessive reliance on punishment could create resentment rather than genuine environmental awareness. For this reason, governments should accompany legislation with public education campaigns that explain the long-term consequences of waste, such as soil and water contamination, excessive landfill use and the unnecessary consumption of natural resources.

**In conclusion, I strongly agree that governments need laws to increase household recycling, but legal requirements alone are insufficient. The most successful approach would combine regulation with education and practical support so that recycling becomes both an obligation and a normal part of everyday life.**

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction, arguing that while legislation is necessary, it must be supported by other measures. The ideas are well-developed, with the first body paragraph focusing on the necessity of legal requirements and the second paragraph providing a balanced view on the limitations of such laws. The arguments are logical and supported by relevant examples, such as the mention of infrastructure and public education. The conclusion effectively synthesises your position, ensuring the response remains focused throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the necessity of laws and the need for supporting infrastructure is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'First and foremost', 'However', and 'For this reason', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the discussion. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'environmental responsibility', 'modest penalties', 'well-intentioned citizens', and 'unnecessary consumption' show a level of precision and sophistication. The word choices are accurate and contribute to the clarity of your argument. While the vocabulary is consistently strong and natural, it stops just short of the 'wide, fluent and flexible' range required for a band 8 or 9, but it is certainly well above the band 6 level. Your control over collocation is very good.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('If recycling is legally required, individuals may be...') and concessive clauses ('While some people argue that...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with almost no errors throughout the text. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of your sentences. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and modal verbs is consistent. This level of accuracy and structural variety is indicative of a strong command of English grammar.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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