Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-05
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 diagram outlines the stages of producing the recycling process of plastic bottle.
Overall,there are various stages beginning with to people are thrown out the waste material in trash bin and end with to receiving the plastic bottle and new clothes.
Staring with individual are thrown out the waste material and plastic bottle in trash bin and loading in to truck.Then sorting the waste material in order.Later on collect the only material in compressing into block to crush to machine then wash the materials.
After washing material turns to producing plastic pellets, heating plastic pellets to form raw material the raw material turns to a new plastic bottle and new clothes.Again the entrie process repeated to recycling.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the essay attempts to describe the stages of the recycling process, the description is underdeveloped and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the cycle. The overview is somewhat confusing, and the summary of the process is fragmented. To improve, you must ensure you reach the word count and provide a more comprehensive, step-by-step explanation of the diagram, ensuring all key stages are clearly linked and described in detail.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and often inaccurate, such as 'Staring with' (likely meaning 'Starting with') and 'Later on collect the only material'. The sentences are often disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of the process. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'once the process is complete') to connect the stages of the diagram more fluidly and logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'material', 'plastic bottle', and 'waste'. There are several word-choice errors, such as 'people are thrown out' instead of 'people throw out' and 'entrie process repeated' instead of 'entire process is repeated'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a technical process effectively. You should aim to incorporate more precise terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'collection', 'sorting', 'shredding', 'processing', and 'manufacturing'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are issues with verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure (e.g., 'the stages of producing the recycling process of plastic bottle'). Many sentences are fragments or run-on sentences that lack proper punctuation. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple, error-prone sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and work on using passive voice, which is essential for describing processes.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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