Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-27

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 illustrate the process that how plastic bottle recycle to create new goods such as clothes, pencils and lunch box etc-

Overall the process consit of nine main stages- Begning with the person discarded the used plastic bottle and throwing it in a dustbin and ending with manfacturing new goods.

The process begin with the person discard the used water plastic bottle- then the trash collecting truck comes and take all the trash from the bin- The truck take after taking trash truck reach to the recycling store where workers are sorted the trash and put the plastic contained things in a separate box- Afterwards, these plastic goods compress into blocks and with the help of machine crushing the plastic goods and what wash them with clean water.

In six steps- The machine producing plastic pellets from these crushed and cleaned plastic things- and give heat to those palletes so that they convert into a raw material-

Finally - The raw material go to the factories where they new products manufacture from the raw material

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection to the manufacturing of new goods. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the entire cycle. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the process is occasionally repetitive and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the transition between the washing and pelletizing stages is slightly disjointed. To improve, ensure that the summary clearly highlights the cyclical nature of the process and provides a more sophisticated synthesis of the information presented in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the internal cohesion is weak. The use of punctuation is problematic; the frequent use of hyphens instead of full stops or commas disrupts the flow of the text. While some linking words like 'Afterwards' and 'Finally' are used, the progression between sentences is often jerky. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'The truck take after taking trash', which is confusing. To improve, focus on using standard punctuation and a wider variety of cohesive devices to link ideas more fluidly, ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word-choice errors, such as 'plastic contained things' instead of 'plastic items' and 'manfacturing' (spelling error). The repetition of basic verbs like 'take' and 'discard' limits the range. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more specific terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'sorted', 'compressed', 'crushed', or 'raw material', more accurately and naturally. Expanding your range of synonyms will help make your writing more engaging and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with verb tense and subject-verb agreement, such as 'The diagram illustrate', 'workers are sorted', and 'they new products manufacture'. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at complex sentences are often marred by errors. Punctuation is also a significant issue, with hyphens used incorrectly to separate clauses. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage. Practicing the correct use of commas and periods will also significantly improve the readability of your work.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.