Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-18
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)
This diagram illustrates the complete process for recycling plastic bottles.
Overall, this diagram has nine steps beigining with the throwing bottles into the rcycle bin and ending with producing products. Thiss is a mam-made cyclic process.
Firstly, in the first step we throw bottles into the bin which is specificlly made for recycling process. Then the bottles and other form of bags are carried through the truck. This truck brought all this stuff to the recycling centre for sorting. At that place the all the stuff are converted into blocks by compressing. After this each of the block crushed into pieces before being washing.
In the sixth step those crushed pieces are transfer for producing plastic pellets . And then these pellets converted into the raw material by heating. Then this raw material is used for making new products. This is the most important part. In the last step the products are made from raw material.
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 student attempts to summarise the main features of the plastic bottle recycling process, covering the nine stages from disposal to the production of new end products. An overview is provided, noting the cyclic and man-made nature of the process. However, some stages are described with slight inaccuracies or missing detail, such as misinterpreting the sorting stage as involving bags and stating 'each of the block crushed' instead of blocks being crushed. Furthermore, the final paragraph contains personal commentary ('This is the most important part'), which is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. The response meets the minimum length requirement but remains somewhat basic in its selection and reporting of features, placing it comfortably in Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into four paragraphs, following the progression of the diagram from start to finish. Basic cohesive devices and transition words are used, such as 'Overall', 'Firstly', 'Then', and 'In the last step'. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty, as seen in repetitive sentence structures and awkward transitions ('After this each of the block crushed into pieces before being washing'). Referencing is occasionally unclear, and paragraphing could be better managed to group related steps logically rather than splitting them arbitrarily. Overall arrangement is coherent enough to follow, justifying a Band 5.5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with domain-specific terms such as 'recycling centre', 'compressing', 'crushed', 'plastic pellets', and 'raw material'. However, there are frequent lexical errors and poor word choices, including spelling mistakes ('beigining', 'rcycle', 'Thiss', 'mam-made', 'specificlly', 'transfer') and awkward collocations ('other form of bags', 'the all the stuff', 'before being washing'). The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, preventing the score from reaching a higher band. These errors occasionally cause strain for the reader, placing the response at Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical accuracy is weak throughout the text. There are frequent errors in verb forms, articles, and prepositions, such as 'throwing bottles' instead of 'throwing the bottles', 'the all the stuff are converted' (subject-verb agreement and article error), 'each of the block crushed' (missing auxiliary/passive verb), and 'are transfer for producing' (incorrect verb form and preposition). Punctuation is generally basic. Due to the high frequency of grammatical errors that occasionally impede understanding, the response aligns with Band 5.0.
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