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 diagram illustrates the process of recycling plastic bottles from trash.
Overall, This is a cyclic process in which nine different stages are involved. The process begans with loading the trash bottles into the truck to move them recycling centre where the bottles are compressing before crushing to produce plastic pellets, which further being heated to produce raw material for end product, which people will through in trash bin again after using them.
At first stage, people through their used bottles in trash bins. These bottles are loaded in truck in second step. The trush which has a large number of used bottles bring them to the recycling centre. At recycling centre, the bottles are being sort to form a compressed blocks.
Moreover, the compressed blocks are being crushed by perticular mechine. After crushing, the crushed pieces of bottles are in the washng phase. Further, those washed pieces are poured in the special mechine which produce plastic pellets. The next phase is heating the pellets to form raw material. Then, raw material is used for producing the end products which are useful for people. After using those products people will put them in the trash bins again and process will
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student successfully identifies the main features and stages of the plastic recycling process, covering the cycle from the initial collection of bottles in trash bins through sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pelletising, heating, and finally to producing end products. An overview is provided stating that it is a cyclic process involving nine stages. However, some details are slightly compressed or inaccurate in their sequencing within individual sentences (e.g., stating 'bottles are compressing before crushing to produce plastic pellets'), and the response trails off unfinished at the very end ('and process will'). Because all main parts of the diagram are addressed and the process is clearly outlined overall, this performance aligns best with Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay has a recognisable overall structure, beginning with an introductory sentence and an overview. The student attempts to use cohesive devices and sequential markers such as 'At first stage', 'Moreover', and 'Then' to guide the reader through the diagram's steps. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped—the entire body of the response is merged into a single block or two poorly defined paragraphs. Furthermore, referencing is sometimes faulty (e.g., 'The trush which has a large number of used bottles bring them...'), and the abrupt ending disrupts the flow. These features place the response firmly in Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for describing a mechanical process, using terms such as 'recycling centre', 'sorting', 'compressing', 'crushing', 'washing', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are frequent spelling errors ('begans', 'through' instead of 'throw', 'trush', 'sort', 'perticular', 'mechine', 'washng') and word-form inaccuracies (e.g., 'are compressing', 'are being sort', 'produce plastic pellets'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, these persistent lexical and spelling errors restrict the score to Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some attempts at passive voice constructions (e.g., 'the bottles are being sort', 'are being crushed by perticular mechine'). Nevertheless, grammatical control is weak, with frequent errors in verb forms, voice, and subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the process begans', 'which people will through', 'the trush which has... bring them', 'process will'). Punctuation is also problematic, marked by run-on sentences and missing terminal punctuation due to the incomplete ending. These errors frequently strain the reader, justifying a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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