Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-19
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)
Some people believe that recycling at home is not enough, while others say that one way to increase recycling is for governments to make it legally required. I think laws, along with other measures, are important to encourage people to recycle more of their waste.
On the one hand, there are several reasons why laws are important. One of the prominent reasons is that if the government makes laws about recycling waste, people would be more likely to follow them. In other words, people should separate different kinds of waste, such as plastic items and glass bottles, and so on, to ease the recycling process. For example, the government can make a law and impose financial penalties on those who fail to comply with recycling rules. As a result, the amount of recyclable waste increases over time after the law is implemented.
On the other hand, the government provides education about this subject in addition to making laws. This is because some people do not follow the rules, so it is necessary to teach people in their countries proper educational guidelines; if the government does not arrange this solution, countries might face this issue again and again. For instance, in this modern era, advertising has become common, so the government can run public awareness campaigns about recycling; in these advertisements, people can learn about the benefits and why recycling is essential for people and the environment. As a result, it would bring a lot of benefits for countries as well as people.
In conclusion, although some people think that making laws is the only way to increase recycling, I think that laws are important along with other measures to encourage people to recycle and follow the rules properly.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the perspective that laws are necessary and acknowledging alternative measures such as education. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported, such as when the student mentions financial penalties for non-compliance and public awareness campaigns via advertising. However, some arguments tend to over-generalise slightly, such as the claim that advertising in this modern era will automatically solve the issue. Overall, the task is well handled, fitting comfortably into the Band 7 descriptor for addressing all parts with a clear position and supported ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The introduction outlines the writer's stance, followed by well-defined body paragraphs starting with clear signposts like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are used adequately, though some linking expressions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive, such as 'As a result'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the distinct viewpoints into clear blocks. Referencing is generally clear, contributing to an overall coherent piece of writing that meets the expectations for a Band 6.5 or 7.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to the prompt such as 'financial penalties', 'comply', 'recycling process', and 'public awareness campaigns'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though occasional word choice and collocation issues appear, such as 'arrange this solution' or 'bring a lot of benefits for countries'. Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication, allowing the student to achieve a solid Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional structures and relative clauses effectively, as seen in 'if the government makes laws about recycling waste, people would be more likely to follow them'. There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'teach people in their countries proper educational guidelines', but these do not impede communication. Punctuation is generally sound. The control of grammar aligns well with the Band 6 descriptor, featuring a functional mix of structures alongside some recurring minor errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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