Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-02

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 6.5)

Some people think that not enough waste from homes is recycled. They believe that the government should make laws to make people recycle their waste. I partly agree with this idea because laws can help, but there are also other ways to increase recycling.

There are some good reasons for making recycling a law. First, many people do not recycle their waste because they do not care about the environment. If the government makes a law, people will have to recycle some of their rubbish. For example, people may have to put plastic bottles, paper and glass in different bins. If they do not follow the rules, they could get a fine. This can make people more careful about recycling.

However, I think laws are not the only way to solve this problem. The government should also teach people about recycling. Many people do not know how much rubbish can harm the environment. For example, plastic waste can pollute rivers and oceans and can be dangerous for animals. Schools and television can teach people about these problems. When people understand the importance of recycling, they may choose to recycle without being forced.

Another useful solution is to provide more recycling bins. Sometimes people want to recycle, but there are not enough bins near their homes. The government should put recycling bins in different areas and collect the waste regularly. This would make recycling easier for everyone.

In conclusion, I believe that making recycling a law can help increase the amount of waste that is recycled. However, it is not the only solution. The government should also educate people and provide more recycling facilities. In my opinion, using these methods together would be a better way to reduce household waste.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that legislation is beneficial but insufficient on its own. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, particularly the distinction between mandatory legal requirements and the necessity of public education and infrastructure. The argument is balanced, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the points made. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, real-world examples of successful recycling policies (e.g., mentioning a specific country's deposit-refund scheme) to add depth to the supporting arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'For example', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is clear, and the flow of the argument is consistent throughout. The structure is logical and supports the overall purpose of the essay well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'rubbish', 'pollute', and 'recycling facilities' appropriately. While the range is sufficient, it lacks the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would characterize a higher band. The word choices are generally accurate, though some phrasing is quite simple. Incorporating more precise collocations or academic synonyms would enhance the lexical profile of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate, which ensures that the meaning is never obscured. There is a good use of conditional structures ('If the government makes a law, people will have to...') and modal verbs. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the control is strong, the range of complex structures could be further expanded to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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