Level: IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Task type: Two-part question
Recommended time: 40 minutes
Word count: At least 250 words
Question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In many countries, people throw away large amounts of food, clothing and household items, even when these things could still be used.
Why has this become so common?
What can individuals and governments do to reduce this problem?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to write it
A clear structure for this essay:
Introduction
Paraphrase the question and briefly answer both parts.
Body paragraph 1
Explain why throwing things away has become common.
Body paragraph 2
Explain what individuals and governments can do to reduce the problem.
Conclusion
Summarise the main causes and the best solutions.
Main ideas you can use
Many products are cheap and easy to replace.
Advertising encourages people to buy new things frequently.
Fast fashion has made clothing feel disposable.
People often lack the time or skills to repair items.
Food is wasted because people buy too much or misunderstand expiry dates.
Individuals can plan shopping more carefully and repair or donate items.
Governments can support recycling, repair schemes and food waste campaigns.
Businesses can be encouraged or required to reduce wasteful packaging and overproduction.
Band 6 sample
In many countries, people throw away a lot of food, clothes and household items, even when they can still be used. This has become common for several reasons, and both individuals and governments should take action to reduce the problem.
One reason is that many products are now cheap and easy to replace. For example, people often buy new clothes because fast fashion is inexpensive and styles change quickly. In the past, people repaired clothes or household objects, but today many people simply throw them away and buy new ones. Food waste is also a major issue. Some people buy too much food and then cannot use it before it goes bad. Others may throw food away because they do not understand the difference between best-before dates and food that is actually unsafe to eat.
There are several ways to deal with this problem. Individuals should shop more carefully and avoid buying things they do not need. They could also repair items, give unwanted clothes to charity or freeze food before it is wasted. Governments can help by running public information campaigns about food waste and recycling. They could also support repair centres and make it easier for people to donate usable goods.
In conclusion, throwaway culture has become common because goods are cheap, advertising encourages constant buying and many people waste food unnecessarily. However, the problem can be reduced if people change their habits and governments make reuse and recycling easier.
Band 8 sample
In many parts of the world, large quantities of food, clothing and household goods are discarded despite still being usable. This trend is largely the result of consumer culture, low-cost production and changing attitudes towards repair and reuse. To address it, both personal habits and government policies need to change.
One major reason for this problem is that many goods have become relatively cheap and easily replaceable. Fast fashion, for instance, encourages consumers to buy new clothes frequently rather than keep them for several years. Advertising and social media also create pressure to own the latest products, making perfectly usable items seem outdated. In addition, many people no longer have the skills, time or motivation to repair damaged goods, so replacing them appears easier than fixing them. Food waste has similar causes: households often buy more than they need, while confusion over expiry labels leads people to throw away food that may still be safe to eat.
Reducing this problem requires action at several levels. Individuals can make a significant difference by planning meals, buying only what they need and donating or repairing items instead of discarding them. Schools and community organisations could also teach practical skills such as basic cooking, sewing and repair. Governments, meanwhile, should invest in recycling systems, support repair workshops and run public campaigns explaining how to reduce food waste. They could also introduce regulations to discourage excessive packaging and require supermarkets to donate unsold edible food where possible.
In conclusion, throwaway culture has grown because modern consumers are encouraged to replace goods quickly and waste is often more convenient than reuse. Nevertheless, a combination of more responsible personal choices and stronger government action could substantially reduce the amount of usable material being thrown away.
