Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-19

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)

Few masses claim that not sufficient waste from homes is recycled. I am on the same wavelength with them because of healthier environment and laws create responsibility.

One of the major reason of my agreement is healthier environment. This is due to the fact that surrounding were clean if proper waste is recycled more recycling means less waste goes to landfills. They also help to reduce air, soil and water pollution. People conserve natural resources by reusing materials and less diseases are generate. For instance, a survey conducted by Government department has approved by recycling the waste due to its productive outcomes. Therefore, it leads environment clean and disease free.

Another significant point on its favour is the laws create responsibility. This means that, if government should create awareness among recycling and make it a legal requirement . People are more likely to recycle the waste when it is legally required. If people do not follow the rule they ensure to pay fines. Fines and penalties can discourage people from ignoring recycling rules. It ensures that recycling becomes a regular habit. If recycling law boost up in the society , it can bring benefits in the form of clean surroundings.

To conclude, it is clear from the above mentioned points that the idea of increase recycling seems practical and can bring prosperity for the society and people. Therefore, it would be wise to accept this idea and promote it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the necessity of recycling laws. However, the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of development. While the position is clear, the arguments are somewhat repetitive and lack specific, well-explained examples. The reference to a 'survey conducted by Government department' is vague and lacks sufficient detail to support the argument effectively. To improve, you should expand on your points with more concrete evidence and ensure the essay meets the minimum length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'One of the major reason', 'Another significant point', and 'To conclude' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'Few masses claim'. The logical progression is generally sound, but the connection between sentences could be smoother to achieve a more natural flow. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring they are used more naturally would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'Few masses' and 'less diseases are generate' are unnatural and contain grammatical errors. While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'landfills', 'pollution', and 'natural resources', the overall range is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and avoiding informal or incorrect word choices. For example, instead of 'boost up', use 'is enforced' or 'is implemented'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'surrounding were clean', 'less diseases are generate', and 'laws create responsibility'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction, verb tenses, and pluralization will significantly improve the accuracy and quality of your writing.

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

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