Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26
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 the nine steps involved in recycling plastic bottles.
Overall, when people throw they garbages in the bins, these the plastic bottles are collected from the garbage bins and passes though certain process before the plastic pellets production until it finally turned to useable recycled products.
Initially, when people throw garbage into bins, they are being collected and sent by the garbage collector to the recycling center where they are being sorted. After this, they will be compressed and turned into blocks.
Following this, the blocks will be crushed, thereafter the broken pieces will be washed and pass though a machine to produce plastic pellets.
In the subsequent stage, these pellets is heated to create raw materials. The raw materials will be collected until they turn into various products.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the student identifies the main stages of the recycling process, the description is somewhat superficial. The overview provided is a bit repetitive, and the final stage is described in a vague manner ('collected until they turn into various products') rather than detailing the specific output shown in the diagram. To improve, the student should ensure all steps are described with sufficient detail and meet the length requirement to allow for a full development of the process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After this', 'Following this', and 'In the subsequent stage' are used to link the steps. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and minor grammatical errors in referencing, such as 'these the plastic bottles'. The overall structure is clear, but the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated to achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'recycling center', 'compressed', 'crushed', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are some inaccuracies and unnatural word choices, such as 'throw they garbages' (should be 'throw their garbage') and 'useable recycled products'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to industrial processes and ensure correct word forms and collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('these pellets is heated', 'they are being collected'), incorrect pronoun usage ('they garbages'), and awkward phrasing ('passes though certain process'). While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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