Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-20

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 6.0)

It is true that a large amount of household waste is not recycled, and some people argue that governments should impose laws to force people to recycle. I partly agree with this notion because legislation can encourage people to recycle, but I believe that education and convenient recycling facilities are equally important.

On the one hand, laws can be an effective way to recycle waste from home. State governments can implement penalties and fines for household residents who don't separate recyclable materials and non-recyclable waste but instead throw altogether in to trash bins; for these kinds of challenges, local authorities should fine residents. District authorities like panchayats should distribute separate bins for segregation and also do the same in malls.

On the other hand, laws alone don't fix the issue, but together there is a need for public awareness and education. Governments should invest in educating citizens and running regular campaigns so that the issue can be resolved gradually with practice by citizens, and thereby the state would be pollution-free; hence, somehow adapting these changes in individuals' day-to-day lives would help fix global warming. Providing daily trash picking in communities will be beneficial.

In conclusion, I believe that government legislation making a legal requirement can fix the problem, but enforcing laws alone is not enough; there is also a need for public awareness, and facilities are equally important.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the role of legislation and the importance of education/facilities. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you present a clear position, the arguments remain somewhat superficial. For example, the suggestion to 'fine residents' is mentioned but not fully explored in terms of its practical implementation or potential drawbacks. To reach a higher band, you need to expand your supporting points with more detailed explanations and specific examples to ensure the response is fully developed and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to signal the structure. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. For instance, the transition from discussing fines to the mention of 'panchayats' feels abrupt. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a more cohesive argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use common terms like 'fix the issue', 'good', and 'help', which are functional but repetitive. There are some minor errors in collocation, such as 'throw altogether in to trash bins' (should be 'throw them all into trash bins'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to environmental policy and waste management, such as 'mandatory', 'incentivize', or 'infrastructure', to demonstrate a more flexible control of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'throw altogether in to trash bins' is syntactically awkward, and 'somehow adapting these changes' is slightly unnatural in this context. There are also minor punctuation and preposition errors throughout. To achieve a higher score, focus on increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage. Proofreading for small slips will also help improve your overall accuracy.

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.