Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-06

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)

In the process show that how plastic bittles are recycled. Firstly, the younger dump water bottle and some garbages in the dustbins. Afterthat, the recycling truck came and taking the all garbages from the dustbins and then its go into recycling centre where they are sorting recycling items. For example, reused item put into right place and rest of through into waste. In the fourth process, they compressed the all recycled bottles and others things into blocks. Moreover, they crushing that blocks by big machine and through into big water tank for washing reused items.

Furthermore, its satrt to producing the plastic pellets by one square machine and through raw material outside the operator machine and heating them. After this, put raw material on to wooden pallets and tight with ropes. In the last, start to making products from the raw material like clothes, bottles, recyecled bags, pencils, tiffin container and etc.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You describe the main sequence from putting bottles in a bin through collection, sorting, processing and making new products, and you include several examples of the end products. However, the account is only partial: it does not clearly identify the process as a closed loop, including the return from end products to the recycling bin. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. The diagram shows plastic bottles being placed in a recycling bin, not “water bottle and some garbages,” and sorting separates suitable bottles from rejected items rather than simply placing “reused item” correctly. The stages of washing, pellet production and heating are mentioned, but their relationships are difficult to follow. Add a concise overview of the cycle and report each key stage accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are generally presented in a sensible order, and sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “After this,” and “In the last” help the reader follow the process. The response also uses “Moreover” and “Furthermore” to connect later steps. However, the writing is one continuous paragraph, so the stages are not visually grouped, and some links between steps are unclear—for example, the sentence about producing pellets moves abruptly to raw material and heating. References such as “they,” “its,” and “them” do not always make clear which material or machine is meant. Use separate paragraphs for the collection/sorting and processing/product stages, and make each transition explicit without relying on repeated time markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling centre,” “compressed,” “blocks,” “washing,” “plastic pellets,” and “raw material,” which helps convey the general topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms make the description imprecise, such as “garbages,” “reused item,” “through into waste,” and “tight with ropes.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “bittles,” “satrt,” and “recyecled,” which reduce clarity and control. Aim for accurate process collocations: for example, bottles are “sorted,” “crushed,” and “washed,” while pellets are “heated” to produce raw material. Check spelling and avoid vague phrases such as “and etc.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to describe a sequence using both simple clauses and longer sentences, but control of sentence structure and verb forms is inconsistent. For example, “the recycling truck came and taking” combines incompatible verb forms, while “they compressed the all recycled bottles” has problems with article placement and sentence structure. Several clauses lack a clear subject or use an incorrect form, as in “its satrt to producing” and “In the last, start to making products.” These errors sometimes make the process difficult to understand. Practise forming complete passive sentences for process descriptions, such as “The bottles are collected and taken to a recycling centre,” and maintain consistent present-tense forms throughout. Use articles and plurals carefully, and punctuate each stage as a complete sentence.

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