Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-02

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 of garbage collection all start from a garbage box also known as trash cans that are placed at the end of every street and from them the garbage is collected everyday by a truck and then is taken to the recycling station where garbage is firstly sorted by the category they lie in for example the plastic waste is seprated from the paper waste and glass waste and similarly for the steel and metal waste. Once the sorting is done all the waste of the same category is then placed at the same place and then is compressed for example the steel and the glass and plastic are then pushed into the crushing machine. From here the process of recycling starts and they are heated and recycled into raw material that is then used to make things of the daily used which then move through same procedure again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. The description is somewhat repetitive and focuses on individual steps rather than synthesizing the information. For instance, the explanation of sorting and crushing is quite detailed, but the response fails to highlight the cyclical nature of the process effectively. To improve, you should include an introductory sentence that summarizes the entire process and ensure that the key stages are presented in a more structured, logical flow rather than a single, long paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single, long paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow. There is a lack of paragraphing, which is essential for organizing a process description. While some cohesive devices like 'once' and 'from here' are used, they are somewhat mechanical and repetitive. The flow of ideas is hindered by the lack of clear transitions between the collection, sorting, and recycling phases. To achieve a higher band, you should divide your response into clear paragraphs—perhaps one for the collection/sorting stage and another for the processing/recycling stage—and use a wider variety of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on basic terms like 'garbage', 'things', and 'placed at the same place'. There are also some spelling errors, such as 'seprated' instead of 'separated'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific, academic vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'segregated', 'compressed', 'raw materials', and 'manufacturing'. Using more precise terminology will help you convey the technical nature of the process more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response consists mostly of simple and compound sentences, often joined by 'and'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which limits your ability to show grammatical range. Additionally, there are several punctuation errors, such as the lack of full stops, which results in a run-on sentence structure that makes the text hard to read. For example, the entire response is essentially one long, continuous sentence. You need to focus on using full stops to separate distinct ideas and incorporating complex structures like relative clauses or passive voice to describe the process more formally.

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

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