Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-22

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 Picture Illustrated the different stages of recycling plastic bottles process.

Overall, the nine stages for process recycling plastic bottles.

First stage people throw plastic waste into the dustbin after transporter collected waste from the dustbin and transfer to the recycling center there are waste shorting part they sorting plastic bottles and other material they put in different side than plastic bottles compress into blocks and they put blocks into the crushing machine crush and wash the bottle.

After that bottles went to the producing machine than produce plastic pallets and the machine heating pellets to made form raw material. collect the raw material from heating machine and produce the product. the product are bags, cloths, boxes, and pencils than process is done

People used product and after throw plastic waste into the garbage and start again the same process to recycling plastic waste. the process show how to recycled plastic waste.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main subject and describe several central stages, including collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating, and making new products. You also recognise that the process repeats, which is an important feature of the diagram. However, the account is only partly complete and some details are unclear or inaccurate: for example, you say the bottles are put in a “dustbin” and later “garbage,” rather than a recycling bin, and the sorting stage is described vaguely as separating “other material.” The overview, “Overall, the nine stages,” does not explain the process’s main pattern or its circular nature. State clearly that discarded bottles are collected, processed into raw material, made into products, and returned to use in a cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the broad order of the diagram and uses paragraph breaks to separate the opening, process stages, and final return to use. Sequencing phrases such as “First stage” and “After that” help the reader follow the general progression. However, progression is weakened by long, run-on sentences that combine several stages without clear boundaries, particularly the paragraph beginning “First stage people throw…” The links “than” and “after” are sometimes used inaccurately, and the final sentence repeats the idea that the process starts again rather than adding a clear concluding overview. Organise the stages into shorter sentences and use precise links such as “Next,” “Following this,” and “Finally” to make each transition clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “compress,” “crushing machine,” “pellets,” “raw material,” and “product,” so the reader can recognise the main stages. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the description difficult to interpret. Examples include “shorting” for sorting, “pallets” for pellets, “dustbin” for recycling bin, and “cloths” for clothing. Repetition of “produce” and “process” also limits precision. Build a more accurate set of terms for materials and stages, and check spelling carefully; for example, distinguish plastic pellets from wooden pallets and use “end products” for the items made from recycled material.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to connect stages in longer sentences, but sentence structures are often incomplete or faulty, and errors frequently make relationships between actions unclear. For example, “after transporter collected waste from the dustbin and transfer to the recycling center” lacks a clear subject and has inconsistent verb forms. There are also problems with tense and agreement in “the product are bags” and “the machine heating pellets to made form raw material.” Most sentences rely on simple clauses joined together, with limited accurate control of more complex forms. Use passive structures suited to a process, such as “The bottles are collected and taken to a recycling centre,” and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and consistent verb forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.