Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-15

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)

Members of todays' society strongly mention that significant amount of household's trash is not properly recycled. They firlmly believe that strict laws by government about recycling of households leftover, is the only effective measure to cope with that problem. As well as I am concerned, I completely believe that this approach to deal with a environment damaging issue could be the only meaningful slolution.

Waste, whether biodegradable or non biodegeadable, are ruining our ecosystem considerably. Its urgent to take impactful measures to deal with this emerging concern. The most suggested solution is about the governments imposing laws to recycling of all types of waste products, coming from homes, industries and agricultural sectors. In my perpective, government of a country is the only authority that own the potential to change things overnight, by making strict policies and constitutions.

The waste which is not recycled and is thrown out on public places becomes the major cause of land pollution. So the laws about the recycling are equalent to effprts to save environment. Fines should be imposed on civilians, factories and agricultural land owners, who are not disposing their waste properly. More recycle bins should be placed after short distances in the cities. I believe that these impactful measures can considerably lessen the problem.

Conversely, In my openion, its not just duty of government to think of enviromental safety issues, its an obligate duty of citizens to ensure recycling of their waste products. Authorities and the public must join hands to combat all problems that are attecting globally. This is the only solution according to me.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you strongly support legal requirements, stating that government action may be “the only meaningful solution.” You address the role of laws with relevant suggestions, including fines and more recycling bins, and you also acknowledge that citizens share responsibility. However, the discussion is unevenly developed. The claim that governments can “change things overnight” is asserted rather than explained, and the final paragraph introduces shared responsibility without clarifying how this relates to your view that laws are necessary. Develop one or two reasons with specific explanation or an example, and distinguish more clearly between laws as essential and public cooperation as supportive. This would make the response more fully developed across all parts of the question.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two paragraphs about government measures and pollution, and a concluding paragraph on citizens’ responsibilities. This gives the reader a general sense of direction. However, progression between ideas is sometimes unclear. The second paragraph moves from household waste to industrial and agricultural waste, broadening the focus without explaining the connection to the question. “Conversely” also signals a contrast, although the point that citizens share responsibility does not directly oppose the need for laws. Some linking phrases, such as “In my perspective” and “I believe,” are repeated or mechanical. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each paragraph explicitly to your central argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “biodegradable,” “land pollution,” “imposing laws,” and “combat,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “impactful measures.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause: “firlmly,” “slolution,” “perpective,” and “attecting” are examples. Some combinations are also unnatural, including “recycling of households leftover” and “laws about the recycling.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations such as “household waste,” “require residents to separate their rubbish,” and “enforce recycling regulations.” Proofreading spelling and choosing simpler, precise expressions would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple statements and attempts at more complex structures, including “Waste, whether biodegradable or non biodegradable, are…” and the relative clause “who are not disposing their waste properly.” This shows some variety, but control is inconsistent. For example, “Waste … are” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “the only meaningful slolution” follows an incorrect article pattern in “a environment damaging issue.” The opening sentence also has a difficult possessive construction, and several long sentences combine ideas without clear grammatical boundaries. Practise accurate articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries, then build complexity with controlled clauses. More consistently correct sentences would make your argument easier to follow.

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