Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-25
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)
Yes, i agree with the first statement not enough of the waste from homes could be recycled. But there is need to make some rules and regulations for waste to recycle. That is only possible with the help of government. Government should make laws for collection of recycle materials. In some developed countries for instance China and Japan i watched in videos there are laws implemented for collection of waste materials and recycled it in proper way. That is necessary for reducing pollution as well as it can help us in our economics goals. Through recycling of waste we can save our resources by reuse of things that made by recycled material. In my country government have a plan to produce energy from plastic waste. I do not know what would be the process i just watched in news. Government should make laws as well as give public awareness to the people. In my area the agriculture waste is used for burning that is polluting environment as well as producing deceases, so government should to make laws for prevention of such type of activities. I think people has not such awareness how recycle waste. Farmers can get fertilizer benefits by recycling the waste of agriculture.
In conclusion government is responsible to make laws but there is also need awareness for public because through awareness they would also take responsibility. So, both claims are correct because without mutual consent it would be impossible to recycle waste. There is dire need to make laws.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the role of government legislation in recycling. However, the development of ideas is limited. While you mention China, Japan, and your home country, these points are not fully extended or linked back to the core argument about whether laws are the 'only' way to increase recycling. The position is clear, but the argument lacks depth and analytical rigor. To improve, you should explore the counter-argument or the limitations of legislation more thoroughly, ensuring that each paragraph directly supports your central thesis rather than just listing examples.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical. You rely on basic transitions like 'In conclusion' and 'So', which makes the progression feel somewhat disjointed. There is a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas effectively. For instance, the transition between the discussion of agriculture waste and the conclusion is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'nevertheless') and ensure that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a smoother, more cohesive argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You use basic terms like 'make rules', 'proper way', and 'good', which are repetitive. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'producing deceases' (likely meaning 'causing diseases') and 'agriculture waste is used for burning'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to environmental policy and sustainability, such as 'mandatory regulations', 'waste management infrastructure', or 'public awareness campaigns'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetition and express your ideas with more sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'people has not such awareness how recycle waste' (should be 'people lack awareness of how to recycle waste') and 'government should to make laws'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically verb patterns and pluralization, before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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