Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-30

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)

Waste from home can be recycled if people are responsibe. Some people say that only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement. In my opinion, its wrong because this is not only the responsibility of government citizens should also have a reponsibilty.

The waste from their home can be recycled. They should seprate plastic, papers, glass and waste food. Here are some five tips on which government took action and make it legal.

Law makes people responsibe. Government should pass laws. If recycling becomes a legal requirement, people will taken it more seriously and recycle their household waste. Because if they do not act upon laws they should have to pay fine. Due to fear of fine they should do work more responsibly.

Secondely,Fines can encourage recycling. Government can fine people who do not follow recycling rules. This may encourage them to recycle regularly.

Thirdly, people should seprate different types of waste. The government can require people to seprate plastic, paper, glass and food waste into different bins. Government should arrange bins because bins make recycling

easier.

Forthly, Government should provide recycling facilities. Laws are not enpugh. The government should provide recycling bins and regular waste collection services.

Government should spread awareness from education, school, social mediaand awareness compaigns. It can teach people about the environmental benefits of recycling.

In conclusion, i believe that laws are important for increasing recycling, but laws alone are not enough. Government should also provide recycling facilitiesand educate people about the importance of recycling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear overall view that laws are important but insufficient, and you mention relevant measures such as fines, separate bins, collection services and education. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the opening says citizens also have responsibility, but this point is not explained, and the list of measures replaces a fuller explanation of how legal requirements would increase recycling. The phrase “Here are some five tips” also makes the response sound like a list rather than a developed argument. The response is 241 words, so it falls 9 words short of the 250-word minimum; 14 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Develop fewer points with reasons or examples, and ensure the response meets the required length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a sequence of supporting points and a conclusion that restates your position. Linking expressions such as “Secondely,” “Thirdly” and “In conclusion” help signal stages in the response. However, the overall progression is not fully clear because the body reads mainly as a numbered list of suggestions, rather than building an argument about the extent to which laws are needed. The opening idea about citizens’ responsibility is not carried through, and “Here are some five tips” creates an abrupt shift. Some connections are also awkward, as in “Because if they do not act upon laws.” Group related points into focused paragraphs and use links that show cause, contrast or consequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “legal requirement,” “household waste,” “recycling facilities” and “environmental benefits.” However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, particularly “government,” “recycle” and “people.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, including “responsibe,” “seprate,” “enpugh” and “awareness compaigns,” which can distract the reader. Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “do work more responsibly” and “spread awareness from education.” Aim to use accurate forms and more natural collocations, for example, “raise awareness through education” and “sort waste into categories.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional structure in “If recycling becomes a legal requirement, people will taken it more seriously.” However, errors are frequent, and some sentences are difficult to follow. For example, “people will taken” has an incorrect verb form, while “In my opinion, its wrong because this is not only the responsibility of government citizens should also have a reponsibilty” joins ideas without the necessary punctuation or grammatical connection. Other problems include “The waste from their home can be recycled” and the fragment “Because if they do not act upon laws.” Use complete sentences, check verb forms and articles, and punctuate clauses carefully. Practising accurate conditional sentences and sentence boundaries would improve clarity.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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