Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05

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 5.0)

The process diagram illustrates how plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, the process consists of nine stages, beginning with the recycling bin and ending with the producing raw material how manufacturers new products.

Initially used plastic bottles are placed in recycling bin, then it collected and transported to a recycling center where they are sorted. The plastic bottles separated one by one The fourth step is compressing into blocks before crushed into small pieces. After this process, it's crushing through the machines, then it washed thoroughly to remove any impurities.

Secondly, the sixth step is processed into plastic pellets. These pellets are then heated to produce raw plastic material. The next stage producing raw material which manufactures new products including plastic bottles, containers and other useful material. The final stage the raw plastic material is used to produce end products. The whole process shows the how plastic bottles recycled and describes the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection to the final production of new goods. However, the summary is somewhat disjointed, and the final sentence is incomplete, which impacts the overall clarity of the reporting. While the key features are identified, the description of the process lacks the necessary flow and precision expected for an academic report. The overview provided in the second paragraph is a good attempt, but the lack of a cohesive conclusion and the unfinished final sentence prevent a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into two paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. While some cohesive devices like 'Initially', 'After this process', and 'Secondly' are used, they are often followed by sentences that lack clear internal structure. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the use of 'it' to refer to plural nouns like 'bottles'. The paragraphing is present, but the flow between ideas is mechanical rather than fluid, and the abrupt ending significantly disrupts the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms such as 'process', 'stage', and 'material'. There are attempts to use process-specific vocabulary like 'recycling center', 'sorted', 'compressing', and 'impurities', which is positive. However, the word choice is often imprecise, such as 'producing raw material which manufactures new products' (manufacturers is a noun, not a verb here). The range is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('it collected', 'it washed'), missing articles ('in recycling bin'), and incorrect verb forms ('The fourth step is compressing', 'The next stage producing'). Sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and missing commas. The incomplete final sentence is a significant grammatical failure that leaves the reader without a sense of closure.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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