Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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 Diagram illustrates the process for the recycling of the plastic bottles.In the first step the bottles are utilized in the dustbin then the dustbin is send to the bus,In the third step the bus took all the plastic bottles to the recycling centre in which all the bottles are sorted in the forth step the bottles are compressed in the form of the block while in the fifth step the block is crushed and converted into the small pieces. These pieces are washed and then put into the machine to produce plastic pellets. After the formation of the pellet there is a process of the heat setting to form the raw material. This raw material is utilized to form the products like bags ,T-shirts and bottles etc. This is the process for the recycling of the bottles and this process repeats again and again to ensure the sustainability.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the overview is present, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, structured summary of the key features. The report is presented as a single block of text rather than being organized into logical paragraphs, which hinders the overall presentation of the information. To improve, ensure you meet the minimum length requirement and provide a more detailed analysis of the process stages, grouping them logically to demonstrate a better understanding of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of the process. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the steps using words like 'In the first step' and 'In the third step', the lack of paragraphing and the repetitive nature of the sentence structures make the text feel mechanical. There is a lack of variety in cohesive devices, and the flow is somewhat disjointed. To improve, you should organize your writing into at least three paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph detailing the process, and a concluding summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is functional but quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'in the first step', 'in the third step', and 'in the fifth step' are used repeatedly, which limits the range of language. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'utilized in the dustbin' and 'send to the bus'. To achieve a higher band score, you should aim to use more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'collected', 'transported', 'sorted', and 'processed', and avoid repeating the same sentence starters.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the dustbin is send to the bus' (should be 'sent') and 'in the forth step' (spelling error: 'fourth'). The use of articles is also inconsistent, for example, 'the recycling of the plastic bottles' and 'the formation of the pellet'. The range of grammatical structures is limited, with few attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of sentence types, including passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing processes, and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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