Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-11

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 given diagram illustrates that how old plastic bottles are recycled.There are total 9 steps taken place in the recycling of the bottels and then it will

able to use in my daily life.We can comapre all steps individually and we learnt how recycling process taken place.

First of all the manin process to collect all old plastic bottels from garbage, then the next process to transport bottels to the recycling plant where the whole proces is occur.In the recycling plant some workers seperate the bottels which areable for recyclingand those which are not and convert them into a block then these bottels are ready for the next process.After all that stuff tha next step is to crushing the blocks which are make by the workers and then we goes to th next stage where crushed plastic ae washed. Then we make plastic pettels by melting plastic blocks.And convert them into the raw material.After all that stuff those plastic bottels which we collect from garbge are able to make more products from it like some stationary for students and otherthing like shirts and old thing plastic bottels and also some lunch boxes which are able to use in my daily life.

This also reduce some gabage and save some money as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a recycling process and include several key stages, from collection and transport to sorting, crushing, washing, and making new products. However, the account only partially covers the sequence: it omits the compression stage as a distinct step and does not clearly explain that the plastic is made into pellets, which are then heated to form raw material. The overview is also unclear; “there are total 9 steps” gives a count but does not summarise the process’s closed-loop nature. Some details are inaccurate or unsupported, such as saying the pellets are made “by melting plastic blocks.” Focus on the diagram’s actual stages and explain how the finished products can re-enter the recycling cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence, using “First of all,” “then,” and “After all that stuff” to move through the process. This helps the reader recognise that the stages are being described in order. However, the progression is not consistently clear: several stages are crowded into one long paragraph, and phrases such as “After all that stuff” are repeated rather than showing precise relationships between steps. The opening also promises to compare the steps individually, but no comparison follows. Group the description into a brief overview and logically ordered stages, and use clear links such as “Next,” “Following this,” and “Finally.” This would make the organisation more purposeful and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling plant,” “separate,” “crushing,” “raw material,” and “products,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, especially “bottels,” “process,” and “After all that stuff.” Spelling errors such as “comapre,” “pettels,” and “garbge,” along with imprecise expressions such as “some stationary for students,” can make details harder to follow. Choose accurate terms from the diagram and use them consistently—for example, “plastic pellets,” “compress into blocks,” and “end products.” More precise vocabulary would help distinguish the stages and avoid vague wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to connect ideas in longer sentences, but these structures are often faulty, and grammatical errors sometimes make the sequence difficult to understand. For example, “The given diagram illustrates that how…” has an unnecessary “that,” while “the whole proces is occur” uses an incorrect verb form. There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence construction in phrases such as “There are total 9 steps taken place” and “then we goes to th next stage.” Most sentences are joined with “and” or “then,” so the range of structures remains limited. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then add controlled clauses, such as “After the bottles are sorted, recyclable plastic is compressed into blocks.”

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