Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-01

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 given man made diagram represents the process for recycling plastic bottles,

Overall, it is crystal clear that how the plastic bottles are recycled. There is totally 9 process to recycle plastic bottles first one is take it from garbage box and last one is producing and products.

On the first hand a sanitation worker takes a plastic bottles from a garbage box then put into garbage truck and take them into recycling center and sorting after that plastic bottles compressing into blocks and put into crushing machine and crushed properly.

After the process of crushing they producing plastic pellets and heating pellets. These pellets are heated further to transform into. In final stage these raw materials are utilized by factories produce it from a household products like clothes,water bottle, pencils, bucket, bags and pencils.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the student identifies the main stages of the recycling process, the description is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to fully convey the process. The overview is weak and does not effectively highlight the key stages or the cyclical nature of the process. Furthermore, the response is under-length, which prevents a full development of the information provided in the diagram. To improve, the student should aim to describe each stage with more precision and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for a comprehensive summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the transitions between sentences are mechanical and sometimes confusing, such as 'On the first hand'. The use of cohesive devices is limited and repetitive, making the flow of information feel disjointed. The logical progression of the process is hindered by the lack of clear signposting between the various stages of recycling. To improve, the student should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, moving logically from the collection phase to the final manufacturing stage.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'take', 'put', and 'process'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'man made diagram' and 'producing and products'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a technical process effectively. To reach a higher band, the student needs to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'collection', 'sorting', 'shredding', 'granulation', and 'manufacturing', rather than relying on general verbs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'they producing'), missing articles, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'it is crystal clear that how the plastic bottles are recycled'). The range of sentence structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. There is a lack of complex structures, which are necessary for higher band scores. The student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, correct verb tenses, and the appropriate use of articles to improve the accuracy and readability of their writing.

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

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