Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the process for recycling plastic bottles.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

How plastic bottles are recycled

Student answer (Band 4.0)

The given diagram illustrates the process for renewing the plastic bottles,showing different procedures how the plastic bottles are renewing.

Overall,it required different procedures for renewing the plastic bottles.Some of the compulsory things which can be required are recycling center,producing end products,compressing into blocks,raw materials,crushing,washing and producing plastic pellets.These things can be used in renewing plastic bottles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response recognises that the diagram concerns recycling plastic bottles and mentions several genuine labels, including sorting at a recycling centre, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production and end products. However, it does not summarise the process: there is no account of the sequence from placing bottles in a bin and collection through to making new products and returning to the cycle. The overview is also inaccurate in describing the stages as “things” required for “renewing” bottles, rather than explaining how the cycle works. The response is substantially below the required 150 words, leaving the main stages and the closed-loop nature of the process unexplained. To improve, describe the stages in order and give a clear overview of the recycling cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic overall shape: it begins by introducing the diagram and then gives a general statement about its contents. The use of “Overall” signals an attempt to organise the information. However, the two sentences do not develop a logical account of the process, and the list of stages in the second sentence has no sequence or explanation of how one stage leads to another. The repeated phrase “plastic bottles” and the vague reference “These things” also make the links between ideas unclear. A clearer progression would use one sentence for the overview and then describe the stages in order, with simple links such as “first,” “next,” and “finally.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a small set of relevant process terms, including “compressing into blocks,” “crushing,” “washing,” and “producing plastic pellets,” so the topic is recognisable. However, vocabulary is repetitive and some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “renewing” is not the appropriate term for recycling bottles, and “compulsory things” does not clearly describe stages in a process. “Raw materials” is also less precise than the diagram’s label “raw material.” The repeated use of “plastic bottles” and “procedures” limits the range. Use accurate process vocabulary such as “recycle,” “stage,” “sort,” and “convert,” and choose terms that describe what happens at each point rather than calling the stages “things.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response communicates its general topic through two simple sentences and attempts a participle clause in “showing different procedures.” However, the grammatical range is very limited, and errors in sentence construction and punctuation reduce clarity. For example, “showing different procedures how the plastic bottles are renewing” lacks a grammatical link between “procedures” and the following clause, while “the plastic bottles are renewing” uses an unsuitable active construction for bottles undergoing a process. The comma after “Overall” is also followed by no space, as is the comma after “bottles.” Aim for clear passive forms, such as “the bottles are collected and sorted,” and use complete, well-punctuated sentences to explain the stages.

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