Nowadays in many countries household waste e.g. food packaging is increasing day by day. What are the causes for that? How can this problem be solved?
Sample Response
In recent years, the amount of household waste, especially from food packaging, has increased rapidly in many countries. This essay will discuss the main causes of this problem and suggest some possible solutions.
One of the main reasons for the growing waste is the widespread use of disposable packaging. Nowadays, people prefer to buy ready-to-eat or takeaway food that comes in plastic containers, bottles, and wrappers. Another reason is the consumerist lifestyle. Many people buy more than they need due to advertisements and discounts, which results in more waste being produced.
To tackle this issue, both individuals and governments need to take action. Firstly, governments can introduce strict laws to limit the use of plastic packaging and encourage eco-friendly materials. Secondly, people should be educated about the importance of reducing waste and recycling properly. For example, using reusable bags and containers can make a big difference in daily life.
In conclusion, the main causes of household waste are the overuse of disposable packaging and a consumer-driven lifestyle. However, this problem can be effectively solved through government policies and public awareness.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise measure Original: amount Suggested revision: volume Why it matters: “Volume” is a more precise academic term for the quantity of accumulated waste.
- 2. Improve collocation Original: the growing waste Suggested revision: the increase in waste Why it matters: This noun phrase is more idiomatic than describing waste itself as “growing.”
- 3. Generalize accurately Original: the consumerist lifestyle Suggested revision: consumerist lifestyles Why it matters: The plural form better describes a broad pattern among many consumers.
- 4. Use policy vocabulary Original: laws Suggested revision: regulations Why it matters: “Regulations” more precisely describes rules limiting packaging practices.
- 5. State the effect precisely Original: make a big difference in daily life Suggested revision: significantly reduce daily waste Why it matters: The revision specifies the positive effect of reusable bags and containers.
- 6. Use measured wording Original: solved Suggested revision: addressed Why it matters: “Addressed” is a more precise verb for a continuing environmental problem.
- 7. Name the waste precisely Original: especially from food packaging Suggested revision: particularly food-packaging waste Why it matters: The revision makes clear that packaging itself is the waste source.
- 8. Use concise verb Original: increased Suggested revision: risen Why it matters: “Risen” expresses an increase more concisely in this sentence.
- 9. Tighten the topic sentence Original: One of the main reasons Suggested revision: One major cause Why it matters: The shorter phrase identifies the causal relationship directly.
- 10. Sharpen the cause Original: use Suggested revision: reliance Why it matters: “Reliance” better emphasizes regular dependence on disposable packaging.
- 11. Improve parallel wording Original: ready-to-eat or takeaway food Suggested revision: ready-to-eat meals or takeaway food Why it matters: Adding “meals” creates a clearer parallel pair of food categories.
- 12. Use precise passive Original: comes in Suggested revision: is sold in Why it matters: This wording accurately connects commercial food products with their packaging.
Suggested Rewrites
- amount volume
- the growing waste the increase in waste
- the consumerist lifestyle consumerist lifestyles
- laws regulations
- make a big difference in daily life significantly reduce daily waste
- solved addressed
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response is especially strong in clarity: it organizes relevant causes and solutions logically and expresses them with consistently accurate language. Its main limitation is insufficient depth, largely because it is well below the expected length, so the central ideas receive only brief explanation. The highest priority is to expand each cause and solution by explaining how it operates and illustrating its likely effect while preserving the current control and focus.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response answers both questions with relevant ideas, but its substantial shortfall in length leaves causes and solutions insufficiently developed.
Reach the required length by extending each main idea with a clear mechanism, consequence, and specific supporting example.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses clearly through a focused introduction, two logically ordered body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion.
Strengthen cohesion further by showing more explicitly how each proposed measure addresses a named cause.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is appropriate and precise for the topic, with useful phrases about packaging, consumption, regulation, and recycling.
Broaden the range slightly when expanding the argument, particularly for describing producer responsibility and waste-management outcomes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Sentence structures are varied and well controlled, with only minor limitations in complexity and no notable loss of clarity.
Use additional complex sentences to express cause-and-effect relationships while maintaining the same high level of accuracy.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Nowadays in many countries household waste e.g. food packaging is increasing day by day. What are the causes for that? How can this problem be solved?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.