The topic of food waste taxation to promote sustainability is gaining traction in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Based on recent trends, this theme has appeared in several past exams and is likely to remain relevant in future tests. Let’s examine a specific question that aligns closely with this subject:
Some people believe that governments should tax food waste to encourage people to be more sustainable. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
This question reflects the growing global concern about food waste and sustainability, making it a prime candidate for IELTS Writing Task 2. Let’s analyze the question and provide sample essays for different band scores.
Question Analysis
This essay prompt requires you to express your opinion on whether governments should impose taxes on food waste as a means to promote sustainability. Key points to consider:
- The main topic is food waste taxation.
- The purpose of the tax is to encourage sustainability.
- You need to state your level of agreement or disagreement.
- You should provide reasons and examples to support your stance.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
In recent years, the issue of food waste has garnered significant attention due to its environmental and economic implications. While some advocate for government intervention through taxation to address this problem, I firmly believe that such measures, although well-intentioned, may not be the most effective solution.
Firstly, implementing a tax on food waste could disproportionately affect lower-income households and small businesses. These groups often operate on tight budgets and may struggle to absorb additional costs, potentially leading to unintended consequences such as reduced food purchases or cutting corners in other areas. Instead of promoting sustainability, this approach might exacerbate existing inequalities and create new socioeconomic challenges.
Moreover, the practical implementation of such a tax would be fraught with difficulties. Accurately measuring and monitoring food waste across diverse households and businesses would require extensive resources and infrastructure, which could prove costly and inefficient. The administrative burden of enforcing such a policy might outweigh its potential benefits, redirecting funds that could be better utilized in more direct sustainability initiatives.
Rather than relying on punitive measures, I argue that governments should focus on education and incentives to address food waste. Comprehensive awareness campaigns can help individuals and businesses understand the impact of their actions and provide practical tips for reducing waste. Additionally, offering tax incentives or grants for implementing food waste reduction technologies or donating excess food to charities could encourage positive behavior without the negative consequences of a blanket tax.
In conclusion, while the intention behind taxing food waste is commendable, the potential drawbacks and implementation challenges make it a less than ideal solution. A more holistic approach combining education, incentives, and technological innovation would likely yield more sustainable and equitable results in the long term.
(Word count: 292)
Food waste reduction strategies illustration
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
The issue of food waste has become a big problem in many countries, and some people think that governments should tax it to make people more sustainable. While I understand this idea, I only partly agree with it because there are both good and bad points to consider.
On one hand, taxing food waste could help reduce the amount of food that is thrown away. When people have to pay extra for wasting food, they might think twice before buying too much or letting food go bad in their fridge. This could lead to more careful shopping and better use of leftovers, which is good for the environment and can save people money in the long run.
However, there are some problems with this approach. First, it might be hard to implement such a tax fairly. How would the government measure food waste for each household or business? It could be expensive and complicated to set up a system to do this. Also, this kind of tax might unfairly affect poor people who already struggle to buy enough food.
Instead of just using taxes, I think governments should try other ways to reduce food waste. They could start education programs in schools and communities to teach people about the importance of not wasting food. They could also encourage supermarkets to sell “imperfect” fruits and vegetables at lower prices, rather than throwing them away.
In conclusion, while taxing food waste might help reduce the problem, it’s not a perfect solution. A combination of education, incentives, and smart policies would probably work better to make people more sustainable without causing other problems.
(Word count: 270)
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)
Food waste is a big problem today. Some people say the government should make a tax on food waste to help the environment. I think this is a good idea, but it might also cause some problems.
First, a tax on food waste could make people think more about how much food they throw away. If they have to pay more money for wasting food, they might be more careful. This could help reduce food waste and be good for the environment.
But there are also some bad things about this idea. It might be hard for the government to check how much food people waste. Also, some people might not have enough money to pay this tax, especially poor families.
I think there are other ways to help reduce food waste. The government could teach people about why it’s important not to waste food. They could also help give extra food to people who need it instead of throwing it away.
In conclusion, I think taxing food waste could help, but it’s not the only answer. We need to use different ways to solve this problem and help the environment.
(Word count: 178)
Food waste tax implementation challenges
Essay Analysis and Band Score Explanation
Band 8-9 Essay:
This essay demonstrates excellent task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy:
- Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a well-developed argument with relevant examples.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Ideas are logically organized with clear progression throughout. Paragraphs are well-linked, and cohesive devices are used effectively.
- Lexical Resource: A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately, including less common lexical items (e.g., “disproportionately,” “exacerbate,” “fraught”).
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A wide range of complex structures is used with flexibility and accuracy.
Band 6-7 Essay:
This essay shows good task achievement and coherence, with a more limited range of vocabulary and grammatical structures:
- Task Achievement: The essay addresses all parts of the task, though some aspects are more fully developed than others.
- Coherence and Cohesion: There is a clear overall progression, though cohesive devices are not always used effectively.
- Lexical Resource: An adequate range of vocabulary is used, with some attempts at less common lexical items.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used, with some errors that do not impede communication.
Band 5-6 Essay:
This essay demonstrates adequate task achievement but limited development and language use:
- Task Achievement: The essay addresses the task, but some aspects are underdeveloped.
- Coherence and Cohesion: There is a basic structure, but paragraphing and cohesive devices are limited.
- Lexical Resource: A limited range of vocabulary is used, with some repetition.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Mainly simple sentences are used, with some errors that may cause slight difficulty for the reader.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Sustainability (noun) /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/ – the ability to maintain something at a certain rate or level
- Disproportionately (adverb) /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənətli/ – to a degree that is too large or too small in comparison with something else
- Exacerbate (verb) /ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/ – to make a problem or bad situation worse
- Fraught (adjective) /frɔːt/ – filled with or likely to result in something undesirable
- Incentive (noun) /ɪnˈsentɪv/ – a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something
- Holistic (adjective) /həʊˈlɪstɪk/ – characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected
- Implement (verb) /ˈɪmplɪment/ – put (a decision, plan, agreement, etc.) into effect
- Punitive (adjective) /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ – inflicting or intended as punishment
- Equitable (adjective) /ˈekwɪtəbl/ – fair and impartial
- Inefficient (adjective) /ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃnt/ – not achieving maximum productivity; wasting or failing to make the best use of time or resources
IELTS vocabulary flashcards for sustainability topic
In conclusion, the topic of food waste taxation for sustainability is a complex and nuanced issue that offers rich opportunities for IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. As you prepare for your exam, consider practicing with similar prompts, such as:
- Should governments impose fines on businesses that generate excessive food waste?
- Do you think education or legislation is more effective in reducing food waste?
- How can individuals and communities contribute to reducing food waste without government intervention?
Remember to structure your essays clearly, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and provide relevant examples to support your arguments. We encourage you to practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section for feedback and discussion. This active practice is an excellent way to improve your IELTS Writing skills and prepare for success in the exam.