Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17
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 picture demonstrates the activity of recycling plastic bottles.
Overall, it is clearly evident that the which method of bottles are recycled, people throw the bottles away in dustbins then collect wasted water bottles by the recycling center for departed the bottles which really useful for recycling those bottles keep it. However, those bottles went for the producing plastic then after recycled plastic bottle converted in the useful products.
Focus on the whole process of recycling plastic bottles, first step of the method was collected bottle from the dustbins, alongside with second step was garbage trucks collected bottles given to the recycling center, while 3rd step was recycling center useable bottles keep it and unusable bottle throw it into dustbin. whereas 4th step was recycling center compressing into the blocks then crushing the plastic after that crushing plastic were washing into the clean water.
on the other hand, washed plastic went out for the producing pellets in the machine, although heating pellets to form of raw materials and then raw materials used into made cloths bags plastic lunch box and water bottles.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. However, the description is often unclear and lacks the precision required for a Band 6 or higher. For example, the phrase 'departed the bottles which really useful' is confusing and fails to accurately describe the sorting process. While the main features are identified, the lack of clarity in explaining the transition between stages (e.g., 'recycling center useable bottles keep it') means the information is not fully developed or clearly presented. To improve, focus on describing the process steps more logically and accurately, ensuring that the function of each stage is clearly communicated to the reader.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps the overall structure, but the internal cohesion is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'whereas 4th step' and 'on the other hand, washed plastic went out'. These transitions do not always logically connect the ideas. Furthermore, the referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult to follow the sequence of events. The flow of information is disjointed, and the lack of appropriate linking words makes the progression of the process hard to track. Improving the use of transition signals and ensuring clear referencing would significantly enhance the readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise, which hinders the clarity of the report. There is frequent misuse of words, such as 'activity' instead of 'process', and 'departed' instead of 'sorted'. The phrasing 'recycling center useable bottles keep it' is grammatically and lexically awkward. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'compressing', 'crushing', and 'pellets', these are often embedded in sentences that are difficult to understand. To reach a higher band, the student needs to focus on using more accurate collocations and avoiding repetitive or non-standard phrasing that obscures the intended meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are significant issues with sentence structure, such as 'the which method of bottles are recycled' and 'crushing plastic were washing into the clean water'. Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are problematic throughout the text. The student relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences are often faulty, leading to confusion. To improve, the student should focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that tenses are used correctly to describe a process. Reducing the number of errors is essential for a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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