Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24

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 7.5)

Many people believe that too little household waste is recycled and that governments should make recycling a legal requirement. I largely agree that laws are necessary to increase recycling, although they should be supported by convenient recycling facilities and public education.

One reason why household recycling rates remain low is that some people lack awareness of its importance. They may not understand how much household waste can damage the environment or how recycling can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. In addition, recycling can be inconvenient when homes do not have separate bins or when recycling facilities are difficult to access. For example, people who have to travel a long distance to dispose of recyclable materials may simply put them in their regular household waste. Therefore, governments need to make recycling easy and accessible as well as educating the public about its benefits.

However, I believe that laws can be an effective way to encourage people to recycle more. If households are legally required to separate recyclable materials from other waste, more people are likely to follow this practice. Governments could also introduce reasonable fines for repeated violations, which would discourage people from ignoring recycling requirements. For example, a local authority could require households to separate paper, plastic, glass and other recyclable materials and impose penalties on those who repeatedly fail to follow the rules. Nevertheless, laws alone may not be sufficient. Governments should provide separate collection bins and regular recycling services so that people can comply with the requirements easily.

In conclusion, I believe that laws are needed to significantly increase household recycling because they can encourage people to change their behaviour. However, governments should combine legal requirements with public education and convenient recycling facilities to achieve better results.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the balance between legal requirements and the necessity of infrastructure and education. You provide relevant examples, such as the mention of local authorities imposing fines and the need for separate collection bins, which effectively support your arguments. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question regarding the extent to which laws are needed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the discussion of why recycling rates are low and the argument for legal intervention is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'For example', 'However', and 'Nevertheless', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, and the conclusion provides a concise summary of your main points without introducing new information.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'legal requirement', 'repeated violations', 'impose penalties', and 'comply with the requirements' show a good grasp of topic-specific language. The vocabulary is used accurately and naturally throughout the text. While the range is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the score further. Overall, the lexical control is strong and supports clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('If households are legally required...') and concessive clauses ('although they should be supported by...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage sentence flow. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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