Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-07

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 this diagram we discuss to the process for recycling plastic bottles that which how we can make to able to use again. In many process the waste material passed and make to able to reuse.

In the diagram firstly the people used any thing after use they through into basket after the day the truck came to the basket take the plastic bottles in it. The truck take into the recycling centre where sorted the plastic bottles afterthat, when sorted plastic bottles the next process compressing into blocks where the plastic bottles compressed tightly to eachother. The fifth process crusted the blocks into small pieces where the pieces washing in any liquid furthermore, the pieces putted into machine where producing plastic pallets. These pallets was heating pallets to form raw material when heated the pallets made raw materialand the last process of plastic bottles the raw material were made the products that can be able to used again.

In the conclusion that which everything recycle into many ways in the diagram shows the process of recycling plastic bottles and was able to use again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the subject and describe several central stages, including collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating and making products. However, the account is only partly complete: it does not clearly explain that unsuitable bottles are rejected during sorting, and it omits the final return from end products to the recycling bin, which makes the process a closed loop. The overview is also vague: “everything recycle into many ways” does not clearly summarise the cycle’s main feature or its outcome. Some details are unclear or inaccurate, such as saying bottles are put in a “basket” and washed “in any liquid.” A clearer overview and more precise coverage of the full cycle would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction to a sequence of stages and then a conclusion. The stages are generally presented in the correct order, and connectors such as “firstly,” “afterthat,” “furthermore” and “when” help signal progression. However, the sequencing is often difficult to follow because several stages are crowded into long sentences, and links between ideas are sometimes unclear. For example, “These pallets was heating pallets to form raw material when heated the pallets made raw materialand the last process…” combines multiple steps without clear boundaries. The conclusion repeats the topic rather than adding a concise summary. Use shorter sentences and clearer transitions between each stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling centre,” “sorted,” “compressing,” “blocks,” “machine” and “raw material,” so the reader can recognise the general subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning unclear. Examples include “through into basket” for disposing of bottles, “crusted” for crushing, “plastic pallets” for pellets, and “any liquid” for the washing stage. Phrases such as “make to able to use again” are also repetitive and unnatural. Build a more precise set of process verbs and nouns, and check spelling and collocations so that each stage is described accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to connect ideas using clauses with “where,” “when” and “after,” but sentence structures are often faulty, and errors frequently make the process harder to understand. For instance, “the truck came to the basket take the plastic bottles in it” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “These pallets was heating pallets” has problems with verb form and agreement. Articles and plurals are also inconsistent, as in “into basket” and “the plastic bottles compressed tightly to eachother.” Punctuation is limited, so long sequences run together, particularly in the second body paragraph. Practise forming clear subject–verb sentences in the present simple passive, such as “The bottles are sorted and then compressed,” before adding more complex clauses.

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