Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-23

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 diagram illustrates the stages involved in the production of plastic bottles the life cycle of recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, it is a man-made process consisting of 9 stages , beginning with collection of raw materials and ending with packaging.

The process begins initally, a man disposes of a plastic bottle into a waste bin. Subsequently, a garbage collection truck arrives, and the bins is lifted by a mechanical arm and emptied into the truck. Moreover, truck transported raw material into a recycling center, where it is sorting. Once this is compressing into blocks. After that blocks enter into the cutter machine than crushing into a small pieces after that wasing pieces.

In the next stage washing pieses enter into a producing plastic pellets heated at a high temperature. After being, it is raw material packages

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe the process of recycling plastic bottles shown in the diagram. However, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, containing only 136 words. Furthermore, the description of the stages becomes increasingly fragmented, rushed, and incoherent towards the end (e.g., 'Once this is compressing into blocks. After that blocks enter into the cutter machine than crushing into a small pieces after that wasing pieces.'). Several steps in the 9-stage circular process are omitted or glossed over very poorly. While the main topic is identified, the underdeveloped execution and under-length penalty severely limit the score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response shows a basic attempt at logical sequencing, beginning with an overall statement and following the chronological steps of the diagram. However, paragraphing is poorly handled, and the progression breaks down entirely in the middle and latter parts of the text. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively (e.g., 'After that', 'after that'). Referencing is frequently unclear, such as 'Once this is compressing' and 'wasing pieces', making it difficult for the reader to follow the exact progression of the recycling loop. Overall cohesion is faulty and mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary to discuss the general topic of recycling, using terms such as 'collection', 'waste bin', 'garbage collection truck', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are numerous word choice and lexical errors throughout the text, such as 'initally', 'transported' instead of 'transports', 'sorting' instead of 'sorted', 'compressing' instead of 'compressed', and 'wasing' instead of 'washing'. Less common vocabulary is attempted but consistently inaccurate, which impedes the precision of the description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The text contains a very limited range of structures and is plagued by persistent grammatical errors. There are frequent issues with passive voice formation, tense consistency, and word forms, such as 'bins is lifted' (subject-verb agreement), 'where it is sorting' (active/passive confusion), 'than crushing into a small pieces' (fragmented structure), and 'After being, it is raw material packages'. Simple sentences are sometimes accurate, but attempts at more complex structures frequently result in faulty syntax and ungrammatical clauses.

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