Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-05

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 illustrate the process how plastic bottles utilize and recycling in the future days.

In generall, the diagram has demonstrated 8 process to complete the recycling of plastic bottles.Wastage plastic bottles have utilized into productive matterials.

The first process shows the wastage bottles while and where we usually disposal. After we disposal, it would be carry out by related vehicles. Which is figure out in process second. Afterward the plastic bottles arrive in recycling centre and recycling work goes on. Similarly, it would be compressing into blocks and includes onto crushing process it process has deeply washing methods, where bottles crushing raw will be purify clearly.

Later process of crushing then the process comes producting plastic pellets, where bottles atom would clarify by using strong machine therfore, it has altered heating pellets to form raw matterial. After these process it has transformed into various kinds of raw matterials and consequently, the whole process has done and finally the wastage plastic bottles have been converted into multiple products such as clothes, pencils, bags, new bottles morever, ertc.

At the end, the whole process has completed and wastage plastic bottles have changed into intergral daily life tools.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response attempts to describe the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, but the information is only partially addressed. While the writer outlines several steps such as sorting, crushing, washing, and producing pellets, some ideas are repetitive and under-developed. For instance, the conclusion mentions the final products appropriately, but the description of the intermediate stages lacks clarity and precision. The overall progression is somewhat obscured by confused descriptions of what happens at each step, leaving the reader struggling to follow the exact sequence of the diagram. To move to a higher band, the writer needs to present a clearer overview and ensure all key stages are accurately and fully described without unnecessary repetition.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation present in the response, but it lacks a clear overall progression. The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is frequently disrupted. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as starting sentences with phrases like 'Later process of crushing then the process comes producting', which makes the transitions mechanical and difficult to follow. Additionally, referencing is sometimes unclear, making it hard to connect pronouns and transitional phrases to their intended antecedents. To improve, the writer should use a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that each sentence logically leads into the next to create a smoother, more transparent progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task. There are noticeable errors in word choice, word form, and spelling throughout the text, such as 'illustrate' instead of 'illustrates', 'generall', 'Wastage' instead of 'Waste', 'matterials', and 'producting'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary result in unnatural phrasing and collocation errors, such as 'bottles atom would clarify' or 'deeply washing methods'. These lexical inaccuracies and spelling mistakes often cause difficulty for the reader and impede smooth communication. To reach a higher band, the writer must expand their vocabulary range, learn correct word forms and collocations associated with process diagrams, and improve basic spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent attempts at complex structures that are heavily flawed. There are frequent errors in verb forms, tense consistency, subject-verb agreement, and articles, such as 'The diagram illustrate', 'it would be carry out', and 'the whole process has done and finally the wastage plastic bottles have been converted'. These frequent grammatical errors cause significant difficulty for the reader and obscure the meaning in several places. Punctuation is also erratic. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to demonstrate better control over basic sentence patterns, ensure correct verb tense usage for describing processes, and significantly reduce the frequency of grammatical errors.

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

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