Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-03

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)

Now a days one of the biggest environmental problem that we face today includes non recycled waste specifically from the households and it has gained much attention. But I think applying legal actions for this is not the proper solution.

One on other hand we need to be clear that every year millions of tons of rubbish is collected around the globe every year from different factories, stations and also homes. Recyling this lot of garbage can bring significant positive change in the enviroment. But to implement this would require effor from both sides like not only involvement of government will be sufficient but edcuating people to tackle this problem is also equally important.

On the other hand this ton of waste include mixed material which would not be easy to simple recycle straight away because it will require cleaning and sorting of the things which are recycleable from the ones which cannot be and this will require alot of time and human effort which might seem unmanageable at glance even if government provide support or apply laws to complement these actions which can urge people to take unethical actions if these laws are enforced and it is not the solution to a problem but can lead to further tensions.

In conclusion I would say that recycling possible rubbish can improve overall conditions of the environment that are affected by the waste but

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You give a clear general position against making recycling compulsory, and you recognise that government action alone may not be enough, noting the importance of educating people. However, the response only partially addresses the question: it does not explain in enough detail how far laws are needed or compare legal requirements with alternatives such as convenient collection systems or incentives. The point that sorting mixed waste takes time and effort is relevant, but the claim that laws could lead to “unethical actions” is unclear and unsupported. The conclusion is unfinished, so your final view is not fully restated. The response is also below the required 250 words, which limits the development of your reasons and examples. Develop each main point and support it with a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is an attempt to organise the response into an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and phrases such as “On the other hand” signal a change in direction. However, the progression between ideas is not consistently clear. “One on other hand” is an inaccurate transition, and the second body paragraph combines several points—sorting, effort, government support, laws and possible tensions—in one long sentence, making their relationships difficult to follow. The conclusion stops after “but,” leaving the argument incomplete. Use one main idea per paragraph, connect each reason explicitly to your position, and finish with a complete concluding statement. More precise referencing would also help readers understand what “this” and “these actions” refer to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “households,” “recycling,” “mixed material,” “sorting” and “environment,” and phrases such as “significant positive change” show an attempt to express ideas beyond basic language. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “legal actions,” “recycleable,” “possible rubbish” and “tackle this problem.” Spelling errors such as “Recyling,” “enviroment,” “edcuating” and “alot” are noticeable and reduce the accuracy of the writing. Aim for precise, natural expressions and check spelling carefully. Repeating “waste” and “problem” can also be avoided by using suitable alternatives such as “household refuse” and “issue.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a contrastive opening and a clause beginning “which would not be easy.” However, complex sentences are often difficult to control, and errors sometimes make the meaning unclear. For example, “One on other hand we need to be clear” has faulty construction, while “this ton of waste include mixed material” has problems with agreement and number. The long sentence beginning “On the other hand this ton of waste” contains several clauses without clear punctuation, so the relationships between ideas are hard to follow. The final sentence is also incomplete. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles and plural forms, and divide long sentences into shorter, complete units with clear punctuation.

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