Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-18

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 4.5)

The diagram illustrates the recycling method of non disposable plastic bottes.

Overall, the diagram has 9 stage man-made process. Which being with collating the used bottles form dustbin and finally the result in producing products like pencil t-shirt and other.

The first stage start with throw all used bottles in bin bag and the non disposable product lodged in vehicle the delivered in the recycling center. Before the compressing into blocks process is started sorting bottles in good condition adding them to next process ad those which are in bad condition they are going to throw out

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 97 words. This significantly impacts the task achievement, as the description of the process is incomplete and lacks the necessary detail required for an Academic Task 1 response. While the student attempts to outline the stages, the summary is too brief to cover all parts of the diagram effectively. To improve, the student must provide a more comprehensive overview of each stage of the recycling process, including the specific technical steps shown in the diagram, and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for full development of the information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks clear paragraphing and logical progression. While there is an attempt at an introduction and a summary, the lack of cohesive devices makes the text feel disjointed. Phrases like 'Which being with' are grammatically incorrect and do not function well as transitions. The sequencing of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of sufficient length prevents the development of a coherent structure. To improve, the student should use clear paragraph breaks to separate the overview from the process description and employ a wider range of linking words such as 'subsequently', 'following this', or 'once the process is complete' to guide the reader through the stages.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with several inaccuracies in word choice. For example, 'non disposable plastic bottes' (spelling error) and 'collating the used bottles form dustbin' show a lack of precision. The phrase 'man-made process' is somewhat redundant in this context. The student struggles to use specific terminology related to recycling, such as 'sorting', 'compressing', or 'processing'. To reach a higher band, the student needs to expand their range of vocabulary to include more precise, topic-specific terms and focus on accurate spelling and collocation, such as using 'recycling facility' instead of 'recycling center'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are issues with sentence structure, such as 'Which being with collating', which is a sentence fragment. Subject-verb agreement and tense usage are inconsistent, as seen in 'The first stage start with throw all used bottles'. Additionally, there are missing articles and prepositions throughout the text. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple, error-prone sentences. To improve, the student should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and practicing the use of complex structures to describe processes, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'bottles are collected').

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

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