Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-17
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)
Nowadays, an increasing number of households do not recycle, leading people to argue that the only way to encourage people to recycle is by introducing legar requirements. I strongly agree with this development, as more people would be encouraged to recycle.
To begin with, recycling has become increasingly popular around the world, especially in developed countries, where it is a compulsory requirement by governments. However, people in developing countries do no recyce their waste because it is not necessarily required and they often realize the importance of this practice. As a result, large amounts of plastic waste end up in landfills and public areas, negatively affecting the environment. By introducing strict regulations and imposing substantial financial fines on those who fail to comply with them, governments can make recycling compulsory, increasing recycling rates significantly.
Investing in public awarness caimpains that promote recycling practices and environmental concerns can help people understand the its importance. Teaching students ways to protect the environmnet at school can help studens adopt sustainable practices at an early age. Overtime, people may recycle unconsciously instead of doing so just because thay can be heavily fined. Consequently, governments can create healthier and more sustainable living conditions for future generations.
In conclusion, strict regulations, high fines, public awareness and environmental education are the most effective ways to encourage people to recycle in modern society. In this way, goverments can create communities where future generations can enjoy a healthier and more sustainable environment.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the role of legislation in recycling. However, the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the position is clear, the arguments regarding the necessity of laws are somewhat underdeveloped. The essay introduces the idea of education as an alternative or supplement to laws, which is relevant, but the connection between the two could be more robustly argued to fully explore the 'extent' of the need for legislation. The under-length nature of the response limits the depth of analysis expected at higher bands.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the discussion of legal requirements from the discussion of education. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is clear, and the referencing is generally accurate, contributing to a coherent overall structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with attempts to use topic-specific terminology such as 'sustainable practices', 'landfills', and 'compulsory requirement'. However, there are several spelling errors, including 'legar', 'recyce', 'awarness', 'caimpains', 'environmnet', 'studens', and 'thay'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise word choices and ensure consistent accuracy in spelling, especially with common academic vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'they often realize' (which contradicts the context of the sentence) and 'understand the its importance'. Punctuation is generally handled well, but the frequency of minor grammatical errors prevents a higher score. While the meaning is always clear, the control over complex structures is not yet consistent enough for a band 7. Focusing on proofreading to catch small errors in articles and verb forms would improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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