Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-05

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 5.0)

Nowadays, recycling waste has become a common topic of discussion. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this development. This essay will discuss the main benefits and drawbacks of recycling before giving my opinion.

There are several advantages of recycling. The first major benefit is that recycled product is generally cheaper than virgin product. This is because manufacturers can reuse existing materials instead of purchasing and processing new raw materials. For example, recycled paper is often cheaper than newly produced paper because manufacture can reuse old paper instead of buying large amounts of fresh wood pulp. Another advantage is that it produce less pollution. As a result, recycled product is cheaper and environment friendly.

However, recycled product has some disadvantages. The main drawback is that some recycled product may not be as strong or durable as newly manufactured products. This can happen because same material is use again and again so it loose its strength. For instance, in recycled cloth or shoes may have low quality material. Another problem is that limited recycling, some materials cannot be recycled many times or are difficult to recycle.

In conclusion, recycling has both positive and negative aspects. while recycled product is cheaper and environment friendly, recycled products may have lower quality so this could be a serious concern. In my opinion, government play important role in development of recycling plant. I think government and private institute have to work together for betterment of society. On the other hand, we have to be aware of the importance of recycling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to address the specific prompt provided. The task asks for an opinion on whether governments should make recycling a legal requirement. Instead, the essay discusses the general advantages and disadvantages of recycling, which is a different topic. While the conclusion briefly mentions that the government plays an important role, the body paragraphs do not engage with the core question of legislation or mandatory recycling. Consequently, the response is largely off-topic, which significantly limits the development of the argument and prevents it from meeting the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt at logical progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'The first major benefit', 'Another advantage', 'The main drawback'). While the paragraphing is functional, the lack of a clear, focused argument makes the overall flow feel disjointed. The transition between the general discussion of recycling and the final opinion is abrupt, as the essay does not build a cohesive case for or against the necessity of laws.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. The student relies on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'recycled product' and 'newly manufactured products'. There are also issues with word forms and collocations, such as 'environment friendly' (should be 'environmentally friendly') and 'manufacture can reuse' (should be 'manufacturers'). The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of an attempt to use less common or more sophisticated lexical items to express complex ideas.

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 subject-verb agreement issues ('it produce less pollution', 'government play important role', 'it loose its strength') and missing articles ('in recycled cloth or shoes'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequency of basic grammatical errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures. The writing is understandable, but the persistent errors in basic grammar prevent a higher score.

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