Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-15

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 pictures illustrate the phenomena for recycling the plastic bottles through the nine stages.

overall,it clearly seen that the plastic bottle recycling containing the nine different stages from the collecting the wastage materials to producing a final product.

initially the wastege materials of plastic is collecting in a big dumping box, once the box is full a vehicle comes for the collection of wastage materials.

At the third stage there is recycling center for sorting in two category at right and wrong box. Furthermore, the compressing into the blocks task start,once it start the turn for cruising into small pieces of bottle take place and it washing for purity and shining to put in a vessel to producing plastic pettle at tge sixth stage.

At the seventh stage the heating petlets to the formation of raw materials similarly, raw materials put into a table into

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the process as involving nine stages and describe several relevant steps, including collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. However, the report is incomplete: it stops while describing the raw material and does not explain the production of end products or the return loop to the recycling bin. The overview is also unclear and does not summarise the full cycle. Some details are inaccurate or imprecise, such as describing the sorting boxes as “right and wrong” rather than accepted and rejected items. The response contains 145 words, below the required 150, and this contributes to the limited coverage. To improve, complete the final stages and give a concise, accurate overview of the entire cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the report, with an opening, an overview and a paragraph describing the early stages. Sequencing phrases such as “initially,” “At the third stage” and “At the seventh stage” help the reader follow the process. However, the progression breaks off at “raw materials put into a table into,” leaving the final stages unexplained and the ending incomplete. The overview is difficult to interpret, and some links between steps are awkward or unclear, as in “once it start the turn for cruising.” Paragraphing is limited, and the long middle section combines many stages without clear separation. Use one paragraph for the overview and separate paragraphs for the process stages, with clear links between each step.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “washing,” “heating” and “raw materials,” which helps communicate the general subject. However, the range is limited and several word-choice or spelling errors make parts difficult to understand. “Wastage materials” is repeated where “plastic bottles” or “discarded bottles” would be clearer; “cruising” appears to be an inaccurate choice for crushing, and “pettle” and “petlets” are misspellings of “pellet” and “pellets.” Phrases such as “purity and shining” and “put in a vessel” do not describe the diagram precisely. Aim for accurate process vocabulary and avoid adding details that are not shown. Proofreading spelling and choosing natural collocations would make the description clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, including a time clause in “once the box is full” and a sequence of actions joined with “and.” However, grammatical errors are frequent, and some sentences are difficult to follow. Examples include “it clearly seen,” which needs a verb such as “it is clearly seen,” and “the plastic bottle recycling containing,” where the subject and verb do not agree. Verb forms and articles are also problematic in “the wastege materials … is collecting” and “the compressing … task start.” Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and a sentence fragment at the end. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions, such as “bottles are collected” and “the plastic is washed,” and check each sentence for a complete subject and verb.

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