Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

A highly controversial issue today relates to whether to have claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. In this essay, I am going to the examine this question from both point of view and explain I discuss the government law are necessary.

To begin with, one the main reasons for this is that it can have a significant impact on individuals and society. On the one hand, there are people who argue that the benefits of recycling household waste considerably outweighs its disadvantages. The main reasons for believing this is that recycling parctices across all households. One of good illustartion of this is the case of countries like Germany, where strict legal frameworks.

On the other hand, other believe that laws alone are not enough to bring about lasting change and that eduaction and public.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies recycling and government laws as its subject, and the reference to Germany could have supported a relevant example. However, it does not clearly answer how far laws are needed: the introduction promises to discuss both viewpoints, but the position is unfinished (“explain I discuss the government law are necessary”), and the body gives no developed explanation of how legal requirements would increase recycling. The counterargument also stops at “education and public,” without explaining it. As a result, the task is addressed only partially and the ideas remain very limited. The response contains 128 words, below the required 250; this leaves too little space to develop reasons and examples. State a clear position, then explain and support both your main argument and any qualification.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is an attempt to organise the response with an introduction, a “To begin with” paragraph, and contrast markers such as “On the one hand” and “On the other hand.” These signals show an awareness of paragraph structure and opposing views. However, the ideas do not progress into complete arguments: the Germany example is left unfinished, and the final paragraph ends abruptly after “education and public.” The opening also announces a discussion of both viewpoints without establishing a clear line of argument. Some linking phrases therefore promise relationships that the response does not go on to explain. To improve, give each paragraph one complete point, develop it with a reason or example, and use transitions only where the connection between ideas is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response attempts some topic-relevant and formal vocabulary, including “household waste,” “recycling practices,” “legal frameworks,” and “lasting change.” These choices show an effort to move beyond very basic wording. However, the range is limited, and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand, such as “parctices,” “illustartion,” and “eduaction.” Some phrases are also incomplete or unnatural, including “one of good illustration” and “the government law are necessary.” Because the response is short, it offers few opportunities to show flexible vocabulary. Build a small set of accurate terms for the topic—such as “mandatory recycling,” “waste separation,” and “public awareness”—and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

There are attempts to use more than simple sentences, including a relative clause in “people who argue that…” and a contrast structure beginning “On the one hand.” However, sentence control is inconsistent, and several errors obscure the intended meaning. For example, “whether to have claim” and “I am going to the examine” contain faulty constructions, while “the benefits … outweighs” has a subject–verb agreement error. The opening sentence also combines ideas without a complete grammatical structure, and the final paragraph is a fragment. Use straightforward, complete sentences first, checking articles, verb forms, agreement, and sentence endings; then add complex clauses where you can control them accurately.

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