Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)
The given diagram illustrates the process for recycling plastic bottles in seven methods.
Overall,the structure demonstrates that how recycling of bottles done by throwing the bottles into garbage tin to recycling centre and crushing and last us making plastic pellets.
The beginning step is put the plastic bottles into trash bin the second step is collecting the garbage by municiple truck that sum up the trash the third step is recycling centr where types of bottles are sorted the usefull and unusefull bottles are separated the fourth step is compressing into blocks the bulk of bottles are collected into blocksthe fifth step is crushing where the bottles are crashed into tiny pieces as well washed in water tank the next sixth step is producing plastic pellets the broken pieces of bottles are converted into tiny pellets they are placed at one point the seventh step is heating the pellets are go through the high temperature where they are melt into raw material and the eighth step is raw material are placed and cool down the next and last step is producing end products into plastic elements like bags , boxes and household appliances.
This total process is in recycle it is in repeating texture.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, but the presentation is significantly hindered by a lack of paragraphing and poor sentence structure. While you identify the key steps, the description is essentially a long, run-on list rather than a well-structured report. You mention the beginning, middle, and end, but the lack of clear grouping or logical flow makes it difficult to follow the process. To improve, you should group the stages into logical phases (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing) and ensure the overview highlights the cyclical nature of the process more clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response lacks paragraphing entirely, which is a major issue for Task 1. The text is a single block, making it difficult to read. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, such as the repetitive use of 'the... step is'. There is no clear progression of ideas; instead, the information is presented as a stream of consciousness. To reach a higher band, you must use paragraph breaks to separate the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs, and use a wider variety of linking words like 'subsequently', 'following this', or 'once the process is complete' to connect the stages.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'step', 'bottles', and 'trash'. There are also several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'municiple' (municipal), 'centr' (centre), 'usefull' (useful), and 'crashed' (crushed). While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precision and the frequent spelling errors prevent a higher score. You should aim to use more specific terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'sorting', 'compressing', 'shredding', and 'raw material conversion' to demonstrate a better range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The grammar is weak, characterized by frequent run-on sentences and a lack of punctuation. Many sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'the structure demonstrates that how recycling of bottles done by throwing the bottles into garbage tin'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and basic errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage are pervasive. To improve, focus on using full stops to separate distinct ideas rather than stringing clauses together with commas or missing conjunctions. Practice using passive voice, which is essential for describing processes (e.g., 'bottles are collected' instead of 'collecting the garbage').
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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