Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-29

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)

Nowadays, a large amount of household waste is not recycled, which causes serious environmental problems. Some people believe that governments should make recycling a legal requirement. I partly agree with this view because laws can encourage people to recycle, but education and better recycling facilities are also necessary.

There are several reasons why laws can increase recycling. If recycling becomes compulsory, people may take it more seriously and separate their waste at home. Governments can also introduce fines for those who repeatedly refuse to follow recycling rules. For example, if households are required to separate plastic, paper and glass, more waste can be collected and reused instead of being sent to landfills. Therefore, laws can be an effective way to change people's behaviour.

However, making recycling a legal requirement is not the only solution. People need to understand why recycling is important. Governments should educate the public through schools, television and social media. In addition, recycling bins and collection services should be easily available. In my experience, people are more likely to recycle when separate bins are provided and the process is simple and convenient.

In conclusion, I believe that laws are needed to increase recycling, especially when people do not recycle voluntarily. However, laws should be combined with public education, convenient recycling facilities and proper waste-collection systems. This combination would be more effective in creating long-term recycling habits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position that laws are necessary but insufficient on their own. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief. To achieve a higher band, you should expand on your examples and provide more detailed explanations for your arguments. For instance, you could elaborate on how specific educational programs have succeeded in other countries or discuss the potential economic impact of recycling laws to add more substance to your points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' effectively to link your thoughts. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that you vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a repetitive structure, as some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Overall, the flow of the essay is clear and coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'compulsory', 'voluntarily', and 'environmental problems' correctly. The language is natural and conveys your meaning clearly. However, the vocabulary is somewhat basic and lacks the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would push the score into the higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or academic synonyms. For example, instead of 'make it a legal requirement', you could use 'mandate recycling through legislation' or 'implement statutory recycling obligations'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. You show good control over punctuation and sentence construction. To reach a higher band, you should aim to include a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'Had the government implemented these measures earlier, the results might have been more significant') or passive voice constructions to enhance the academic tone of your writing.

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

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