Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-26

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 4.0)

the provide diagrame illustrates how plastic bottles are recycled .

overall , according to the diagrame , it is evident that recycling plastic bottle involves nine key stages beginning with collect plastic bottles and ending with producing end products.

at the first stage of collect bottle from dustben

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the topic and gives a basic overview, stating that the process has “nine key stages” and ends with “producing end products.” These points match the diagram. However, the task is addressed only minimally: the only further detail is the incomplete phrase about collecting bottles “from dustben,” and none of the intervening stages—collection by truck, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, or heating—is explained. The overview also does not clearly describe the process as a cycle. The response is 48 words, so it does not meet the 150-word minimum. To improve, describe the main stages in sequence and include the return arrow from end products to the recycling bin.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a small amount of organisation: the opening identifies the diagram, and “overall” introduces a summary of the process. The sequence from the beginning to the end is also signalled by “beginning with” and “ending with.” However, the response stops after an unfinished stage description, so it does not develop into a coherent account of the process. The paragraphing is limited, and there are no links between the stages because most are omitted. Build a clear progression by grouping the stages into a beginning, the recycling-centre processes, and the production of new items, using connectors such as “next,” “after this,” and “finally.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few relevant terms, including “recycled,” “stages,” and “producing end products,” which make the general topic understandable. However, the vocabulary range is very limited, and the description does not include the specific process terms shown in the diagram. “Collect plastic bottles” is an imprecise phrase for the opening stage, while “dustben” appears to be an inaccurate or misspelled word and makes the final fragment unclear. Use accurate terms such as “deposit bottles in a recycling bin,” “sort,” “compress,” “crush,” “wash,” and “form pellets” to describe the stages precisely. Check spelling and word forms before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a basic overview sentence, including the structure “beginning with … and ending with …,” but the range of sentence forms is very narrow. Several grammatical problems are visible: “the provide diagrame” has an incorrect article and word form, “plastic bottle” should be plural in this general statement, and “beginning with collect plastic bottles” does not use a grammatically suitable verb form. The final line, “at the first stage of collect bottle,” is incomplete and does not form a full sentence. Practise writing complete process sentences with consistent present simple forms, for example, “First, people place used bottles in a recycling bin.”

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