Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-22
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 provided diagram illustrates the nine distinct stages in which plastic bottles are recycled.
Overall, plastic bottles when used ,put in the designated bins.After collection, trasported to the sorting facilities, followed by shaping the blocks after bottles are pressed hardly.Furthermore, these blocks are grinded into thin pieces,washed and processed through a machine to generate raw material out of the plastic particles.This raw material is now ready to go on the shelves in the form of produced items.Ultimately ,forming same cycle in the ecosystem.
Intially, plastic bottles are collected in recyclable bins, transferring them in the recycling depots.Where bottles are separated between usable and non-usables.Solid blocks are formed once bottles are sorted. Them the ground particles are washed and pass through a machine to produce raw material, which is then ready to be introduced in the market.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection of bottles in recycling bins to sorting, crushing, washing, pellet production, and the creation of end products that form a continuous cycle. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, containing only 136 words. Because the length requirement is not met, a penalty has been applied to this criterion. Furthermore, some minor details from the intermediate stages, such as heating the pellets into raw material blocks, are slightly compressed or omitted. To improve, ensure you meet the word count requirement and present a fully developed overview that clearly outlines all key steps shown in the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay attempts to organise the information chronologically, starting with an overview and progressing through the steps of the cycle. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward referencing and mechanical cohesive devices. For instance, the transition 'Them the ground particles are washed' contains a spelling error ('Them' instead of 'Then'), and punctuation errors like missing spaces after commas (e.g., 'Ultimately ,forming') detract from the flow. Paragraphing is attempted, but the paragraphs are brief and lack smooth internal links between sentences, leading to a somewhat disjointed structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, with several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors. Examples include 'pressed hardly' instead of 'firmly compressed', 'grinded' instead of 'ground', and 'recyclable bins' instead of 'recycling bins'. There are also frequent issues with word forms, such as 'trasported' and 'Intially'. While the writer attempts some less common vocabulary related to the process (e.g., 'depots', 'particles'), inaccurate word choice and spelling mistakes limit the precision and range of the lexical resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The grammatical structures attempted are a mix of simple and incomplete forms, often lacking main verbs or subjects. For example, sentences like 'Overall, plastic bottles when used ,put in the designated bins' and 'After collection, trasported to the sorting facilities' are grammatically fragmented and omit essential subject-verb components. There are frequent errors in tense usage, passive voice construction, and punctuation throughout the text. Although a few complex structures are attempted, their faulty execution causes noticeable difficulty for the reader.
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