Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17
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 demonstrate the method of recycling plastic bottles. It needs to go several steps consisting garbage collection, sorting,crushing and so on. To illustrate which would be discussed in the upcoming paragraphs.
Firstly, the initial step which include garbage collection in the bin at our houses andother place. Another steps followed by moving it to recycling centre for sorting by garbage truck. Further more , the right bottles are sorted out then they used compress it into the blocks. After that it send for crushing into small particles which then washed before further step.
Moreover, after washing small particles went through the process of production plastic pellets. After heating pellets it turns into raw material which then packed and send to make products like t-shirt, boxes and many more.
To conclude, plastic bottles need to go through roughly 9 steps before recycling and then the process again comes to step one.
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 summarize the 9-stage process of recycling plastic bottles, covering the general flow from disposal and collection through sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, and manufacturing into end products. However, there are significant lapses in task fulfillment. The introduction contains awkward meta-language ('To illustrate which would be discussed in the upcoming paragraphs') that is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. Furthermore, some stages are described vaguely or inaccurately relative to the diagram, such as 'the right bottles are sorted out then they used compress it into the blocks.' While all main parts of the cycle are touched upon, the lack of a clear, unified overview and the presence of imprecise descriptions limit the development of the response, placing it in Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into four paragraphs, which visually resembles a standard report structure. However, logical progression is frequently disrupted by mechanical or inaccurate cohesive devices (e.g., 'Another steps followed by moving it...', 'Further more', 'After that it send'). Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the pronoun use in 'then they used compress it'. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within sentences often breaks down due to missing articles and faulty grammar, impeding smooth reading. The overall organization shows some basic structure but lacks clear and fluent progression, aligning with Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student uses a basic and limited vocabulary suited to the task, including terms like 'garbage collection', 'sorting', 'crushing', and 'washing'. There are frequent lexical and word-formation errors, such as 'production plastic pellets' instead of 'producing plastic pellets', and 'it send' instead of 'it is sent'. Less common vocabulary is attempted but handled inaccurately. Spelling and word choice issues are noticeable and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, which is characteristic of Band 5.0 lexical performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text contains a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent structural errors. There are persistent basic errors in subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, such as 'The given diagram demonstrate' (should be 'demonstrates') and 'small particles went through' (should be 'go through'). Passive voice, which is typically required for describing processes, is poorly handled ('then they used compress it', 'it send'). Punctuation and article usage are also weak throughout the response. These frequent errors that hinder clarity correspond to a Band 5.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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