This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of recycling from the real general training IELTS exam.

Be sure to check out some of my other resources here:

Patreon Ebooks

IELTS Problem Solution Questions

IELTS Discuss both Sides Questions

IELTS Agree / Disagree Questions

Dave

IELTS Task 2 General Training Essay: Recycling

Some people claim that not enough waste from homes is recycled and that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many today would claim that the optimal method to encourage individuals to recycle more often is for governments to legally enforce it. In my opinion, there are subtler approaches governments could take though this reform would undoubtedly be effective.

The principle rationale in favor of this argument is that only governments can force the average person to act when there are pressing social concerns. The world is facing an uncertain future because of increasingly severe environmental problems largely related to overpopulation and human activity. Therefore, governments can justifiably compel their citizens to contribute to the solution by recycling. At the moment, only a small proportion of households recycle consistently but a law that required all families to separate and categorize their garbage would undeniably help combat climate change. This is best evidenced in nations where residents do recycle frequently and the environment is not as direly threatened, such as in Japan.

However, the public backlash to this reform could be avoided with more nuanced reforms. Instead of forcing all households to recycle the government could institute a variety of reforms such as offering incentives to companies that recycle, educating young people about the benefits of recycling, and making recycling in schools a point of emphasis. These minor alterations to existing policy would allow the general public to slowly transition to a more sustainable lifestyle and avoid any potential controversy. If, on the other hand, the reforms were strictly mandated, there is a strong chance that in nations like the United States where individuals are protective of their civil liberties, the government might do more harm than good in the short-term.

In conclusion, though compulsory recycling is a well-intentioned aim, it should not be prioritized over less invasive regulations. In this way, governments will be able to achieve long-term success without alienating the public.

Analysis

1. Many today would claim that the optimal method to encourage individuals to recycle more often is for governments to legally enforce it. 2. In my opinion, there are subtler approaches governments could take though this reform would undoubtedly be effective.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. The principle rationale in favor of this argument is that only governments can force the average person to act when there are pressing social concerns. 2. The world is facing an uncertain future because of increasingly severe environmental problems largely related to overpopulation and human activity. 3. Therefore, governments can justifiably compel their citizens to contribute to the solution by recycling. 4. At the moment, only a small proportion of households recycle consistently but a law that required all families to separate and categorize their garbage would undeniably help combat climate change. 5. This is best evidenced in nations where residents do recycle frequently and the environment is not as direly threatened, such as in Japan.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
  6. State the fullest possible result.

1. However, the public backlash to this reform could be avoided with more nuanced reforms. 2. Instead of forcing all households to recycle the government could institute a variety of reforms such as offering incentives to companies that recycle, educating young people about the benefits of recycling, and making recycling in schools a point of emphasis. 3. These minor alterations to existing policy would allow the general public to slowly transition to a more sustainable lifestyle and avoid any potential controversy. 4. If, on the other hand, the reforms were strictly mandated, there is a strong chance that in nations like the United States where individuals are protective of their civil liberties, the government might do more harm than good in the short-term.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.

1. In conclusion, though compulsory recycling is a well-intentioned aim, it should not be prioritized over less invasive regulations. 2. In this way, governments will be able to achieve long-term success without alienating the public.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many today would claim that the optimal method to encourage individuals to recycle more often is for governments to legally enforce it. In my opinion, there are subtler approaches governments could take though this reform would undoubtedly be effective.

The principle rationale in favor of this argument is that only governments can force the average person to act when there are pressing social concerns. The world is facing an uncertain future because of increasingly severe environmental problems largely related to overpopulation and human activity. Therefore, governments can justifiably compel their citizens to contribute to the solution by recycling. At the moment, only a small proportion of households recycle consistently but a law that required all families to separate and categorize their garbage would undeniably help combat climate change. This is best evidenced in nations where residents do recycle frequently and the environment is not as direly threatened, such as in Japan.

However, the public backlash to this reform could be avoided with more nuanced reforms. Instead of forcing all households to recycle the government could institute a variety of reforms such as offering incentives to companies that recycle, educating young people about the benefits of recycling, and making recycling in schools a point of emphasis. These minor alterations to existing policy would allow the general public to slowly transition to a more sustainable lifestyle and avoid any potential controversy. If, on the other hand, the reforms were strictly mandated, there is a strong chance that in nations like the United States where individuals are protective of their civil liberties, the government might do more harm than good in the short-term.

In conclusion, though compulsory recycling is a well-intentioned aim, it should not be prioritized over less invasive regulations. In this way, governments will be able to achieve long-term success without alienating the public.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

claim argue

optimal method best way

encourage say it is a good idea

recycle turn waste into something new

legally enforce make into a law

subtler approaches not as overt change

though however

reform change

undoubtedly definitely

effective would work

principle rationale main reason

in favor of supporting

argument claim

force make them do this

average person normal resident

pressing social concerns important problems for all of the public

facing confronting

uncertain future not a clear future

increasingly severe getting worse and worse

environmental problems issues related to nature

largely related to mostly concerning

overpopulation more and more people

human activity what people do

justifiably compel with good reason force

contribute add to

solution remedy

At the moment right now

small proportion little percentage

consistently all the time

required need to

separate apart from

categorize put into groups

garbage trash

undeniably definitely

combat climate change fight the worsening environment

evidenced supported by

residents people who live in place, citizens

direly threatened deeply at risk

public backlash people angry about it

avoided get around

nuanced reforms complex new regulations

Instead of rather than

institute put in place

variety different kinds

offering incentives give rewards

benefits good for

a point of emphasis something to focus on

minor alterations small changes

existing policy what is already being done

slowly transition over time move to

sustainable lifestyle environmentally-friendly ways of living

avoid any potential controversy stay away from upsetting people

reforms changes

strictly mandated strong laws

strong chance good chance of

protective care a lot about

civil liberties freedoms

might do more harm than good in the short-term might actually hurt

compulsory required

well-intentioned aim good intentions, mean well

prioritized over considered more important than

invasive have a deep impact

In this way through this method

achieve long-term success sustainable results

alienating upsetting, making angry

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

kleɪm 
ˈɒptɪməl ˈmɛθəd 
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ 
ˌriːˈsaɪkl 
ˈliːgəli ɪnˈfɔːs
ˈsʌtlər əˈprəʊʧɪz 
ðəʊ 
ˌriːˈfɔːm 
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli 
ɪˈfɛktɪv
ˈprɪnsəpl ˌræʃəˈnɑːl 
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv 
ˈɑːgjʊmənt 
fɔːs 
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn 
ˈprɛsɪŋ ˈsəʊʃəl kənˈsɜːnz
ˈfeɪsɪŋ 
ʌnˈsɜːtn ˈfjuːʧə 
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli sɪˈvɪə 
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈprɒbləmz 
ˈlɑːʤli rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː 
ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən 
ˈhjuːmən ækˈtɪvɪti
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪəbli kəmˈpɛl 
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t 
səˈluːʃən 
æt ðə ˈməʊmənt
smɔːl prəˈpɔːʃən 
kənˈsɪstəntli 
rɪˈkwaɪəd 
ˈsɛprɪt 
ˈkætɪgəraɪz 
ˈgɑːbɪʤ 
ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbli 
ˈkɒmbæt ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ
ˈɛvɪdənst 
ˈrɛzɪdənts 
ˈdaɪəli ˈθrɛtnd
ˈpʌblɪk ˈbæklæʃ 
əˈvɔɪdɪd 
nju(ː)ˈɑːnst ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv 
ˈɪnstɪtjuːt 
vəˈraɪəti 
ˈɒfərɪŋ ɪnˈsɛntɪvz 
ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ə pɔɪnt ɒv ˈɛmfəsɪs 
ˈmaɪnər ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz 
ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ ˈpɒlɪsi 
ˈsləʊli trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n
səsˈteɪnəbl ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl 
əˈvɔɪd ˈɛni pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi
ˌriːˈfɔːmz 
ˈstrɪktli ˈmændeɪtɪd
strɒŋ ʧɑːns 
prəˈtɛktɪv 
ˈsɪvl ˈlɪbətiz
maɪt duː mɔː hɑːm ðæn gʊd ɪn ðə ʃɔːt-tɜːm
kəmˈpʌlsəri 
wɛl-ɪnˈtɛnʃənd eɪm
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzd ˈəʊvə 
ɪnˈveɪsɪv 
ɪn ðɪs weɪ
əˈʧiːv ˈlɒŋtɜːm səkˈsɛs 
ˈeɪliəneɪtɪŋ 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many today would c______m that the o_________________d to e______________e individuals to r________e more often is for governments to l________________e it. In my opinion, there are s_____________________s governments could take t________h this r_______m would u_________________y be e__________e.

The p______________________e i_____________f this a____________t is that only governments can f_____e the a_________________n to act when there are p________________________s. The world is f______g an u___________________e because of i________________________e e_____________________s l_______________________o o______________n and h______________y. Therefore, governments can j________________l their citizens to c______________e to the s_________n by recycling. A_______________t, only a s______________n of households recycle c_________________y but a law that r_____________d all families to s___________e and c____________e their g__________e would u___________y help c______________________e. This is best e__________d in nations where r_________s do recycle frequently and the environment is not as d________________d, such as in Japan.

However, the p______________h to this reform could be a_______d with more n________________s. I____________f forcing all households to recycle the government could i___________e a v________y of reforms such as o_______________s to companies that recycle, educating young people about the b__________s of recycling, and making recycling in schools a_____________________s. These m________________s to e________________y would allow the general public to s______________________n to a more s______________________e and a______________________________y. If, on the other hand, the r_________s were s_____________________d, there is a s_______________e that in nations like the United States where individuals are p_______________e of their c________________s, the government m___________________________________________________________m.

In conclusion, though c______________y recycling is a w_____________________________m, it should not be p___________________r less i_____________e regulations. I_______________y, governments will be able to a_____________________________s without a_____________g the public.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220525-what-can-and-cant-be-recycled

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Environment

  1. How are environmental problems dealt with in your country?
  2. What can be done to make people recycle more often?
  3. What is the most pressing environmental problem?
  4. Is recycling a common practice in your country?
  5. Are governments or individuals more responsible?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some say that children should be taught at school to recycling and avoid waste. Others say they should learn this at home.

Discuss both views and give your opinion

Recommended For You