Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish. Why do you think this is happening? What can governments do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced?

Same question Compare all 3 answers See different approaches and band scores for this IELTS task.

Sample Response

The modern society is generating an increasing amount of waste and the waste management has become one of the pressing issues both in developing and developed countries. With the inevitable rise in population and industrialisation, this problem will be further aggravated. The government can help decrease waste production by educating the public and by promoting recycling. The global population has reached a staggering seven billion recently. Solid waste is a by-product of this phenomenon. This number is expected to balloon to nine billion by 2050 if the current trend goes on. The amount of trash produced is likewise expected to rise. Manufacturing industries also contribute to the total of accumulated waste. While market demands go higher, the number of factories built also increases to satisfy this demand. This unsavoury problem has taken centre stage as the world focused on tackling global warming. One way that the government can help alleviate this burden on the environment is by educating the culprits – the general public. By promoting the use of reusable bags when shopping, the amount of plastic bags can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, the government can also run advertisements and put up posters in ways that a household can reduce the trash it generates. Another step that the government may undertake is through sound recycling. It must invest in a technology that can be managed through the municipal level. To encourage its citizens to adhere to this program, collection areas for recyclable materials must be accessible. Sweden has set these areas within 300 meters from residential areas and so far they are succeeding. To conclude, it is a fact that the human population will continue to rise. In order for the world’s natural resources remain sustainable, the government and the public must cooperate to find a solution to this ever-present problem.

IELTS Writing Correction

  • 1. Remove the article Original: The modern society Suggested revision: Modern society Why it matters: 'Society' in this general expression does not take the definite article.
  • 2. Remove the article Original: the waste management Suggested revision: waste management Why it matters: The general uncountable concept does not require 'the'.
  • 3. Fix correlative order Original: both in developing and developed countries Suggested revision: in both developing and developed countries Why it matters: The preposition should precede the complete 'both ... and' phrase.
  • 4. Use clear reference Original: This number Suggested revision: This population Why it matters: The specific noun creates a clearer reference to the preceding population figure.
  • 5. Use formal wording Original: if the current trend goes on Suggested revision: if the current trend continues Why it matters: 'Continues' is more concise and appropriately formal.
  • 6. Add quantity noun Original: the total of accumulated waste Suggested revision: the total amount of accumulated waste Why it matters: The phrase needs 'amount' to quantify the uncountable noun 'waste'.
  • 7. Correct the collocation Original: market demands go higher Suggested revision: market demand rises Why it matters: Demand rises; it does not naturally 'go higher' in formal prose.
  • 8. Remove misplaced modifier Original: the number of factories built also increases Suggested revision: the number of factories also increases Why it matters: Removing 'built' avoids an awkward reduced clause and keeps the subject clear.
  • 9. Fix tense consistency Original: as the world focused Suggested revision: as the world focuses Why it matters: The present tense is needed for an ongoing contemporary focus.
  • 10. Use neutral wording Original: the culprits – the general public Suggested revision: the general public Why it matters: 'Culprits' is unnecessarily accusatory in this policy discussion.
  • 11. Use count noun quantifier Original: the amount of plastic bags Suggested revision: the number of plastic bags Why it matters: 'Bags' are countable, so they are quantified with 'number'.
  • 12. Fix preposition pattern Original: in ways that a household can reduce Suggested revision: explaining ways a household can reduce Why it matters: Advertisements explain ways to act; they are not run 'in ways that' households act.

Suggested Rewrites

  • The modern society Modern society
  • the waste management waste management
  • both in developing and developed countries in both developing and developed countries
  • This number This population
  • if the current trend goes on if the current trend continues
  • the total of accumulated waste the total amount of accumulated waste
Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response answers both questions directly and develops practical government measures, including public education and accessible recycling facilities, with a relevant real-world example. Its main weakness is that the entire essay appears as one paragraph, which obscures the otherwise logical shift from causes to solutions; several collocations and grammatical forms are also awkward. The highest-priority improvement is to organize the material into clear introduction, cause, solution, and conclusion paragraphs.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.

TR

Task Response

8.0
Feedback

Both the causes of rising waste and practical government responses are directly addressed, extended, and supported with relevant detail.

Next step

Strengthen the conclusion by briefly synthesizing both the identified causes and the specific government measures proposed.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0
Feedback

Ideas progress logically from causes to solutions, but the absence of paragraph breaks substantially reduces structural clarity.

Next step

Separate the introduction, causes, government measures, and conclusion into distinct paragraphs with clear controlling ideas.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.0
Feedback

A broad range of topic vocabulary is used effectively, although some collocations such as 'market demands go higher' are imprecise.

Next step

Refine awkward combinations by choosing natural forms such as 'market demand increases' and 'municipal recycling technology'.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0
Feedback

The response uses varied complex structures with generally good control, while occasional article, tense, and infinitive errors remain.

Next step

Edit recurring forms such as 'modern society', 'as the world focuses', and 'in order for resources to remain sustainable'.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish. Why do you think this is happening? What can governments do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced?

Your response

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40:00

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