Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-21

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 4.5)

we can recycle the platic bottles because recylcing is very important we cannot wate the bottles by recycling the bottles we can produce many things first of all we collect the plastic booles first and drop these bottles into the big dustbin then we arrange any vehicles to collect these bottles and we call the recycling or sorting centre to recycles these bottles so that these could be recycled then we compress into blocks so that they could acuupy less space and crush the bottles and then producing the pallets and heat the pallet to form the raw matrial these raw matrial the are use in the simplest way to recycle the bottles these raw matrerials are molted in different ways to form the material so these raw material played an important role in recycling the products and then by giving certain conditions to raw material nwe products are formed

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies several relevant stages, including putting bottles in a bin, collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, making pellets and heating them into raw material. However, it does not give a clear, accurate overview of the full cycle: the washing stage and the production of end products are not properly explained, and the return of products to the recycling bin is omitted. Some details are unclear or unsupported, such as “arrange any vehicles” and the claim that raw materials are “molted in different ways.” The opening focuses on the importance of recycling rather than summarising the diagram. To improve, describe the process neutrally from disposal through to new products and the loop back to collection.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic sequence, signalled by “first of all,” “then” and “and then,” so the reader can recognise that the response is describing stages in order. However, nearly all the information is placed in one long, unpunctuated sentence, and ideas run together without clear paragraphing or sentence boundaries. The repeated references to “these bottles” and “these raw material” do not always make the connections between stages clear. The explanation also circles back to raw material rather than progressing cleanly to the end products. Use separate sentences for the collection, processing and output stages, and use precise linking expressions such as “After sorting” and “Finally” to make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some task-related vocabulary, including “recycling centre,” “compress into blocks,” “crush,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which helps convey parts of the process. However, the range is basic and repetitive, with “bottles” and “raw material” used repeatedly and little precise language for the later stages. Several spelling errors, including “platic,” “booles,” “matrial” and “molted,” make the description less clear. Some word combinations are also unsuitable, such as “arrange any vehicles” and “played an important role” in a process description. Build a small bank of accurate process verbs and nouns, and check spelling and collocations so that each stage is described precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to connect ideas with clauses using “because,” “so that” and “then,” but sentence structures are mostly simple or joined into long, faulty strings. There are frequent problems with sentence boundaries and punctuation, as in “these raw matrial the are use in the simplest way,” which makes the relationship between ideas difficult to follow. Verb forms and agreement are also unreliable: “we call the recycling or sorting centre to recycles” and “these raw materials are molted” do not use accurate forms. Articles and plurals are inconsistent as well. Practise writing one complete sentence per stage, using a consistent present simple passive where appropriate, for example, “The bottles are sorted and then compressed.”

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