Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-28

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)

Well, in this diagram a complete recycling process is explained and it is explained in such a way that anybody can easily understand it. First of all a man on duty picks up the plastic bottles from the dustbin and dumps them into a truck. Then the truck carry these bottles to a recycling center where the bottles are sorted out and then a compressor compress them into blocks. Then these blocks are crushed into small pieces and these pieces are washed out. Then these pieces are put into machines that convert these into plastic pellets. and then these plastic pallets are heated to form raw material. and after this the raw material is then transported to factories and industries that produce different products such as plastic bottles, boxes, pencils, plastic bags and clothes as well. Then the same process is repeated again and again because people throw the things made of plastic after using them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student successfully identifies the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, covering the key steps from collection and sorting through crushing, washing, pelletising, and remanufacturing into end products. The cyclical nature of the process is also noted at the end. However, the response is written in an informal, narrative style ("Well, in this diagram...") rather than an objective, academic report appropriate for Task 1. Key features are reported, but the lack of an overview paragraph and the presence of conversational filler limit the development and structure required for higher bands. It meets the minimum word count at 156 words, but the overall task fulfilment aligns with Band 5.5 to 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an overall logical progression that follows the chronological sequence of the diagram. However, cohesion is heavily reliant on repetitive, mechanical linking words, particularly the excessive use of the word "Then" ("Then the truck carry... Then these blocks are... Then these pieces are..."). There is a complete lack of paragraphing, with the entire response presented as a single block of text. Paragraphing is an essential requirement for a cohesive IELTS essay, and the absence of clear structural division pulls down the score for this criterion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate to describe the physical steps of the diagram, including appropriate terms like "recycles," "sorting," "compress," "crushed," and "plastic pellets." However, the range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, and there is a lack of more sophisticated or less common lexical items. Furthermore, there are noticeable lexical errors, such as "plastic pallets" instead of "plastic pellets," and informal phrasing like "picks up" and "dumps them into." While communication is not impeded, the vocabulary remains basic and conversational.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are basic subject-verb agreement errors, such as "the truck carry" instead of "carries," and punctuation issues, including a comma splice followed by a lowercase continuation ("...plastic pellets. and then..."). Complex structures tend to be clumsy or run-on, driven by coordinating conjunctions rather than subordinate clauses. Errors occur frequently enough to cause occasional distraction for the reader, though they do not completely obscure the meaning.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.