Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-24

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 figure shows that the approach for recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, the figure gives idea about the initial phase to new product production phase, how it works.

Firstly, people kept plastic bollles in the dustbin. From where the bin car collect it and transport to recycling center. In this phase, somebody sorting bottles in different busket by similaritiese, and collect which are not recycleable . After collecting from sorting then it is compressing into square blocks and prepare for next step. The next step is crushing. in this step, the compressed blocks are divided into small pices. Later , send them for washing . In this step ensure that, tiny pices are cleaned well.Later come the interesting phase where tiny plastic go under a machine whice actually make it more tiny and called it plastic pellets. After completing this process now the raw material is ready for making different items. There are several items made by plastic. For instance: Watter bottle,pot,pen, bag and many more.

In contrast , When the final product is ready then send it for sell. After using, user again thrown away in the bin. And then the same approch occurs again and again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response covers all the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, starting from throwing bottles into a bin up to the production of end products and the continuation of the cycle. However, the introduction is very weak, featuring a fragmented sentence ('The given figure shows that the approach for recycling plastic bottles.'), and the overview merely repeats parts of the prompt without clearly summarising the key features of the loop. Several stages are described in a somewhat conversational, narrative tone rather than an analytical summary style. While the sequence of steps is generally accurate according to the diagram, the lack of a well-developed overview and the simplistic phrasing limit the score to Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is organised into paragraphs, representing an introduction, an overview, the main process steps, and a concluding loop description. However, the progression is hindered by awkward transitions and poor paragraphing choices. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often repetitive, mechanical, or incorrectly phrased (e.g., 'Firstly', 'From where', 'After collecting from sorting then it is', 'In contrast'). Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to follow the precise flow between certain steps. Paragraphing is attempted but lacks the structure expected of an Academic Task 1 response, placing this criterion at Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, frequently relying on simple terms such as 'tiny', 'make', and 'ready'. There are numerous word choice and spelling errors throughout the text, including 'bollles' instead of bottles, 'busket' instead of baskets, 'similariese', 'recycleable', 'pices', and 'whice'. While the student attempts some less common vocabulary related to the process (e.g., 'recycling center', 'plastic pellets', 'raw material'), the high frequency of lexical inaccuracies and spelling mistakes causes strain for the reader, placing the response firmly at Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, and clause construction. Examples include 'people kept plastic bollles in the dustbin' (tense shift), 'somebody sorting bottles' (missing auxiliary/verb), 'then it is compressing into square blocks' (passive voice error), and 'user again thrown away' (incorrect form and missing subject). Punctuation is also erratic, with inconsistent spacing and comma usage. These frequent grammatical errors cause significant difficulty for the reader, resulting in a band score of 4.5.

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