Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-12

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)

Recycling can be defined as the process of reusing materials to protect the environment and maintain its sustainabilty. Many people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for the governments to make it a legal requirement. I firmly agree with the fact,that legal boundation would enhance the overall frequency of recycling from homes as legal consequences are harsh and indiviuals try to avoid them.

In my opinion if the government makes recycling a legal requirement it shall have a huge impact on the entire country. The primary reason behind that is, no one stands above the law and violation of law is a culpable offence hence,it has a power to create deterence in the minds of the people. Furthermore, making recycling a legal necessity shall lead to creation of numerous legal precedents which shall further be utilised by the lower courts to make a stronger law on recycling.

Although recycling consistently can have a huge impact on the building of a sustainable environment but its difficult to implement such rules strictly as people tend to cause voilation of normals despite the legal rules however, with a combined efforts of the governement and the law makers a proper law can be executed with stricter punishments that makes it compulsory for the citizens to adhere to legal rules and regulations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You state a clear position in the introduction: you agree that legal requirements would increase household recycling, and you give relevant reasons, including deterrence and enforcement. However, the response addresses the issue only partially: the claim that legal precedents would strengthen recycling laws is not explained, and the final paragraph mainly repeats that rules and punishments could be effective rather than developing a distinct supporting point or example. The response also contains 209 words, below the required 250; 23 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. This limits the space available to explain your reasoning and include the relevant example requested. Develop each reason with a practical illustration and clarify whether laws are essential or should be combined with other measures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to supporting paragraphs, and signposts such as “Furthermore” and “Although” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is limited: the second paragraph introduces legal precedents without showing how they follow from deterrence, while the final paragraph shifts to implementation and then returns to stricter punishment. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly the long sentence beginning “Although recycling consistently can have a huge impact.” Use one main point per paragraph, explain the connection between each claim and your position, and make the contrast in the final paragraph explicit. A brief conclusion would also help the essay feel complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related and formal vocabulary, including “sustainable environment,” “legal requirement,” “violation,” and “legal precedents.” This gives the response an appropriately serious tone, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “legal boundation” and “cause voilation of normals” do not express the intended ideas clearly; “deterence” and “indiviuals” also contain spelling errors. Some phrases, such as “building of a sustainable environment,” are less natural than simpler alternatives. Aim for precise, conventional collocations and check spelling carefully. Clear vocabulary is more effective than using formal-sounding terms whose meaning or usage is uncertain.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt complex sentences, including a cause-and-effect explanation with “hence” and a concession beginning “Although,” but control is inconsistent. Several sentences contain faulty structures or punctuation that make the relationships between ideas hard to follow. For instance, “I firmly agree with the fact,that…” has incorrect punctuation, and “Although recycling consistently can have a huge impact … but…” combines two contrasting structures incorrectly. The sentence about legal precedents also runs several clauses together without clear punctuation. There are some simple sentence patterns, but complex attempts are often not controlled well enough. Practise building longer sentences with one clear main clause, accurate subordination, and correct comma use.

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