Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-29

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 below illustrates information about the whole procedure of plastic bottles recycling.

Overall, the complete process, through which bottles is recyled, comprises of nine steps, starting from collection plastic bottles and finishing at production of new clean plastic bottles.

Initially, used plastic bottles is collected fromfrom different regions including different ways. The gathered plastic bottles is then transported to a recycling centre, where it goes through a number of further pheonomenon, before its final stage. In next phase, the transported plastic bottles are sorted according to their sizes, by hands and extra objects are removed. The next stage involves compressing into blocks.

Furthermore, those compressed bottles is then crushing, through a machine and crushed powder goes in a tank, where that water washed the powder. In nexrt step, washing powder is then shifted in to machine and that machine produce plastic pellets.

Moreover, plastic pellets form raw material with the heat of that machine. Theraw material is then collected and placed on at pellat. In final step, different types of new and clean plastic bottles produce.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to describe all stages of the process for recycling plastic bottles, meeting the requirement to provide an overview and summarize the main steps. The response outlines the journey from collection through sorting, crushing, washing, pellet production, and finally creating end products. However, the description lacks precision in places, and some mechanical steps are confused or poorly connected, such as misinterpreting the washing and pelletizing stages. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, but the lack of well-developed comparisons or precise detailing keeps the response at a Band 5.5 level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps establish a basic structure for the process description. However, the logical progression is frequently hindered by awkward transitions and mechanical or repetitive cohesive devices, such as 'In next phase', 'The next stage', and 'Moreover'. Referencing and logical flow between sentences are often unclear, particularly in the body paragraphs where steps blur together. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is weak. This performance aligns with Band 5.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is quite basic and repetitive, with numerous word-form and spelling errors throughout the text (e.g., 'recyled' instead of recycled, 'pheonomenon' instead of phenomenon, 'pellat' instead of pallet, 'nexrt' instead of next). While the student attempts some less common terms like 'transported', 'compressed', and 'phenomenon', the high frequency of lexical and spelling inaccuracies impedes clarity and places the response firmly in Band 4.5/5.0 territory.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

Grammatical control is weak throughout the response, featuring frequent and persistent errors. There are numerous subject-verb agreement errors, such as 'bottles is recyled', 'plastic bottles is collected', and 'plastic bottles produce'. Simple sentence structures dominate, and attempts at complex or passive constructions are flawed (e.g., 'compressed bottles is then crushing', 'that water washed the powder'). Punctuation and phrasing errors are prominent, restricting the score to Band 4.5.

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