Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-22

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 7.0)

It is an undeniable fact that the waste from homes should be recycled and if it is not there are laws that should be put in place. While I agree that legal measures can play a paramount role in increasing recycling rates, I believe that public awareness and recycling facilities are equally necessary to achieve long-term results.

To begin with, the low level of household recycling is a serious environmental concern. Many people throw recyclable materials such as plastic, paper and glass into general waste because they are either unaware of the consequences or they find recycling inconvenient. As a result, large quantities of waste end up in landfills, which can contribute to soil and water pollution. Moreover, some households do not recycle because there are insufficient recycling bins in their neighborhood. Therefore, the government should not only encourage people to recycle but also make the process simple and accessible.

However, we seldom give a thought to consider the other side of the story. Laws can be highly effective in increasing the amount of waste that is recycled. The government could require households to separate recyclable materials and impose reasonable fines on those who fail to follow the rules. Moreover, positive incentives, such as discounts or rewards for recycling could encourage people to willingly recycle. For example, a system in which households receive points for recycling could motivate residents to develop this habit. However, legislation alone is unlikely to solve the problem unless it is supported by the people.

Considering the various aspects mentioned above, I believe that laws are necessary to increase household recycling, because they will make the people more responsible. Nevertheless, the most effective approach would be to combine legal requirements with public awareness and recycling facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that balances the need for legislation with the necessity of public awareness and infrastructure. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, such as the mention of 'fines' for non-compliance and 'discounts' as positive incentives. The argument is developed logically throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, real-world examples of countries or cities where legal requirements have successfully increased recycling rates, which would add depth to the analysis and demonstrate a more sophisticated engagement with the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'To begin with,' 'Moreover,' and 'However,' which help guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the problem to the potential solutions and finally to a balanced conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow is smooth and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic context. Phrases like 'paramount role,' 'environmental concern,' and 'positive incentives' demonstrate a good range. There is a sufficient level of precision, and the student avoids repetitive language. While the vocabulary is effective, it lacks the 'less common' or 'idiomatic' items that would push the score into the 8.0+ range. The word choices are safe and functional rather than sophisticated or highly nuanced, but they are consistently used correctly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is largely accurate, with very few errors. For example, the use of conditional structures ('if it is not there are laws...') and complex sentences ('While I agree that... I believe that...') is handled well. Punctuation is generally correct, and the writing is easy to follow. There are no major errors that impede meaning. To improve further, the student could incorporate a wider variety of advanced grammatical structures, such as inversion or more complex passive constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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