Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-16
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 process illustrates about the recycling of plastic bottles with the help of transportation, crushing,heating and many more.
By visualising the given information it is clearly seen that, First pick the plastic bottles from the dustbin or garbage. After that, put all the water bottles in a van for transporting all the bottles in a recyling centre. In the third step, all the water bottles are distributed in two boxes, in one box there is all recycled bottles, in another box all the damaged bottles are collected that are not more used or recycled. Conversely, In Fourth step all the recycling bottles are compressing into blocks. Besides that, in Fifth step all the plastic bottles crusshed in between a crushing machine and washed by water. After that, all the crushed parts of bottle put into a plastic pellets Then, In seventh step, all the raw material heated by heating pellets. Besides that, In last step, the raw material converted into plastic lunchboxes, water botlles, pencils, T-Shirts as well as beg.
To conclude, this process is completed in several steps and every step is important if we skip any step then the process will get halted.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to describe the nine-stage process of recycling plastic bottles, covering the main steps from collection through sorting, crushing, washing, pelletising, and manufacturing end products. However, the response suffers from several issues that place it in the lower-middle bands. Firstly, the introduction is awkward and ungrammatical ('The given process illustrates about...'). Secondly, the description of the sorting stage contains some confusion regarding the details provided in the visual prompt. Finally, the conclusion offers personal commentary ('every step is important if we skip any step then the process will get halted') rather than a proper academic overview of the overall process. While all parts of the chart are touched upon, the lack of a clear, objective overview and the uneven development of steps limit this to a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is divided into an introduction, a body description, and a conclusion, but paragraphing is minimal and poorly structured. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and repetitively throughout the response, particularly sequential transitions such as 'After that', 'In the third step', 'Conversely, In Fourth step', 'Besides that, in Fifth step', and 'Then'. Reference words are sometimes vague or incorrectly handled, making the logical progression feel disjointed. Although there is an overall chronological arrangement following the flow of the diagram, the lack of sophisticated cohesive links and poor paragraph control align with the Band 5 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple terms like 'plastic bottles', 'step', 'boxes', and 'water'. There are several word choice and collocation errors, such as 'illustrates about' (unnecessary preposition), 'all the recycling bottles are compressing' (passive voice error), and 'beg' instead of 'bag'. While the student does attempt some less common items related to the topic (e.g., 'recycling centre', 'transporting', 'crushing machine', 'lunchboxes'), frequent errors in word formation and spelling (such as 'recyling' and 'crusshed') restrict the lexical range to a Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response displays a limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex or compound structures frequently contain errors, such as missing subjects, incorrect verb forms ('First pick the plastic bottles'), and flawed tense or voice usage ('all the recycling bottles are compressing into blocks'). Punctuation is also problematic, with run-on clauses and incorrect comma splices. Errors are frequent and often cause some difficulty for the reader, matching the requirements of Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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