Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-12
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 diagram represents the information about the process for recycling plastic bottles.This process have diffrent steps to collect waste.
Overall, this process contains eight diffrent steps to follow first step is individual throw their bottle and can into the dustbin and the least step is producing end products.Intersting fact about this is all botlles compressing into blocks when thewy were going to crushing machine.
Firstly, inidividuals need to throw their bottles into dustbin then a garbage truck take this all waste with it after that this all things sending to recycling center for sort listing the condiction is able to recycled.Fourthly, All waste is compressing into blocks for crushing into a machine.
Shifting toward to remaining data, after crushing the plastic bottle they will washed in water. After that they were sending into a machine which produces the plastic pellets then heating the pellets to from raw material. Second last step convert into a raw material. Lastly the raw material made a end products like clothes, carry bags, boxes, pencil and botlles.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to summarize the process diagram showing how plastic bottles are recycled, identifying several key stages such as collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, and pellet production. However, the response falls into the Band 5 descriptor because the overview is weak and the information is presented with notable omissions and lack of clear progression. For instance, the overview states there are eight steps, but the description fails to clearly delineate or sequence these steps accurately, leading to a somewhat confused summary. Key comparisons or relationships between stages are underdeveloped, and the information is occasionally repetitive or vague, such as stating 'second last step convert into a raw material' without clear contextual integration. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is divided into paragraphs, which shows an attempt at logical structure, but the overall progression is frequently disrupted. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical, misused, or confusing, as seen in transitions like 'Shifting toward to remaining data,' which sounds unnatural and inappropriate for an academic process description. Referencing is also weak in places, such as 'take this all waste with it after that this all things sending,' which creates run-on structures and unclear logical links between clauses. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within sentences is faulty, leading to a score of 5.0 where organization is present but lacks clear overall progression and smooth flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, fitting the Band 5 descriptor. The student relies heavily on simple words and experiences frequent issues with word choice, spelling, and collocation. Examples include spelling errors like 'diffrent,' 'inidividuals,' 'botlles,' and 'Intersting,' as well as awkward phrasing such as 'sort listing the condiction is able to recycled' and 'compressing into blocks for crushing into a machine.' There are very few attempts at less common lexical items, and where they are attempted, inaccurate morphological forms (e.g., 'compressing' instead of 'compressed') and poor collocations impede smooth reading and demonstrate a limited vocabulary range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response features a very limited range of grammatical structures and a high frequency of errors. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures are consistently faulty, resulting in run-on sentences and punctuation errors. Examples of serious grammatical inaccuracies include 'This process have diffrent steps,' 'individual throw their bottle and can,' and 'the raw material made a end products.' Furthermore, verb tense and voice are handled poorly throughout the process description, missing opportunities to use the passive voice which is standard for describing manufacturing or recycling processes. Because errors are frequent and often cause difficulty for the reader, this performance aligns with Band 4.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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