Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-16

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 5.5)

Many people believe that not an adequate amount of households waste is recycled. So they consider that implementing new legal laws and rules can encourage the increase in recycling process because laws rise a sense of responsibility in citizens.

Wastage is a major challenge in all over the world particularly in developing countries. Governments can make different rules for recycling waste materials. Bio non-degradable materials are very difficult to decompose, So Authorities should develop strict rules regarding to the recycling of these types of materials. Furthermore, authorities can provide a special garbage bin in which only recyclable material placed and then waste management authority can pick it, they can impose fine on the individuals which through garbage everywhere. Therefore, individuals will avoid to spread their waste.

For instance, German government reward 0.30 euro to a resident which provide a plastic bottle to a designated machine. Consequently, it encourages the individuals to collect bottles and put them in recycling machine.

Authorities can develop a strict guideline and a rules book for the businesses regarding to their waste. They can provide benefits to manufacturers who use recycled material in their production process. These manufacturers can receive subsidies or tax exemption from governments. Tax authorities can decrease sales tax on recycled material items to make them more affordable for customers. It can encourage customers to prefer these items . Governments can make an point base app in which recycling can increase your point which can be used in pay bills. It is also an effective way.

It is concluded that governments can accelerate the waste recycling process by creating compatible laws and policies for their residents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the role of government legislation in recycling. You have a clear position that laws are beneficial, supported by examples like the German bottle deposit scheme and tax incentives for businesses. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the ideas are relevant, some points, such as the 'point base app', are mentioned briefly without sufficient elaboration. To reach a higher band, ensure that every supporting idea is fully explained with a clear link back to how it specifically increases recycling rates. The conclusion is a bit abrupt and could be expanded to better summarize your main arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'For instance', and 'Consequently' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical transitions and some awkward phrasing, such as 'So they consider that'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, for example, the use of 'it' in 'it can encourage customers' is slightly ambiguous. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'non-degradable', 'subsidies', and 'tax exemption'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'implementing new legal laws' (redundant), 'all over the world' (should be 'across the world'), and 'avoid to spread' (should be 'avoid spreading'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your argument. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and avoiding redundant phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the recycling process'), prepositions ('regarding to'), and verb forms ('individuals which through garbage'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences starting with lowercase letters after a period or having incorrect comma usage. The errors are noticeable and occur throughout the text, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent sentence structure will help improve your accuracy.

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