Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-19

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 shows the process of recycling plastic bottles that are eco friendly for the environment. The first stage that showed in the diagram was you should put garbage in the dustbin. Then a loader came and put the garbage into the tanker then the waste material went to the recycling center were the sorting was done and separate plastic from paper. After separation, the compression was done by compressing the bottles through machines. Then it went to the crushing where the bottles were crushed into small pieces. We put washing into other machines that produced plastic pellets. That pellets also produced raw materials that we further heated those raw materials and made other products that we consumed in our daily life. We can make bottles and lunch boxes and many other products that were very useful in our life. If we done this recycling in a environmental friendly then it will be more beneficial for us.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the creation of new products. However, the report is written in a narrative style ('you should put garbage') rather than an objective, analytical tone suitable for an Academic Task 1 report. The description of the stages is somewhat simplistic, and the conclusion includes personal opinion ('it will be more beneficial for us') which is not required in this task type. To improve, focus on describing the process objectively using passive voice and ensure all key features are clearly highlighted without adding external commentary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is presented as a single block of text, which lacks the necessary paragraphing to structure the information logically. While there is a basic chronological sequence using transition words like 'Then' and 'After', the overuse of these simple connectors makes the flow feel mechanical and repetitive. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'We put washing into other machines', where the subject 'We' is inappropriate for a formal report. Improving the use of paragraphing and varying cohesive devices would significantly enhance the clarity and flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'put', 'done', and 'things'. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'the washing' instead of 'the washing process' and 'that pellets' instead of 'these pellets'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a technical process with precision. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'sorted', 'compressed', 'shredded', and 'manufactured', and avoid informal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's understanding. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('the first stage that showed', 'the sorting was done and separate plastic'), tense consistency, and article usage. The sentence structures are predominantly simple or contain errors when attempting complex constructions, such as 'If we done this recycling in a environmental friendly then it will be more beneficial'. A greater focus on accurate verb forms and the use of passive voice, which is standard for process descriptions, is essential for improvement.

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

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