Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-08
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 illustrates the process of recycling plastic bottles.
Overall, it is clear that plastic bottles can be recycle and in various process, where crushing is the main step to produce new once. It start from colleting and end with heating pellets to from raw material to producing new products.
Looking first at dustbin, a person is throwing plastic bottle inside the dustbin then truck was came to collect waste, and take it at recycling center to sorting. After the step of sorting completed it pass through to compressing to convert into block. Then after, it is ready to crushing, when it start to crushed it was send into water for washing, then it goes through the producing plastic pellets machine to produce raw material.
In seventh and eighth step, the small particles which was came from plastic pellets machine, kept them for heating to form raw material. At last, when it is completed to form raw material it is ready to producing the new products like; plastic bag, bottles and pens etc.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it describes the process as 'various process' and 'crushing is the main step,' which does not effectively summarize the key stages or the cyclical nature of the diagram. While all parts of the task are addressed, the description of the steps is occasionally repetitive and lacks a clear, professional tone. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the transformation from waste to raw material more clearly and avoid listing steps in a way that feels like a simple chronological recount without analytical synthesis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response uses basic cohesive devices such as 'Looking first at,' 'After the step of,' and 'At last.' While these help the reader follow the sequence, the paragraphing is somewhat disjointed. The transition between the collection phase and the processing phase is functional, but the overall progression feels mechanical. Some referencing is unclear, such as 'when it start to crushed it was send,' where the subject pronoun 'it' is used repeatedly without sufficient variety. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'colleting' (collecting), 'once' (ones), and 'truck was came' (truck comes). The use of 'producing plastic pellets machine' is clunky and unnatural. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'shredded,' 'granulated,' or 'reprocessed.' The current range is limited, and the errors in word formation and collocation occasionally distract the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect the fluency of the text. There are consistent issues with verb tense consistency (e.g., 'truck was came,' 'it start to crushed') and subject-verb agreement. Additionally, the sentence structures are often simple or contain errors in complex construction, such as 'the small particles which was came from plastic pellets machine, kept them for heating.' These errors are noticeable and sometimes require the reader to re-read to understand the intended meaning. Focusing on basic tense accuracy and correct sentence construction will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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