Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-27

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 process of recycling plastic bottles start when an individual throw a piece of plastic in the trash can that will be after collected by the trash trucks that will take them to the recycling center where they do sorting of the elements then they compress it into blocks to make the next step of crushing easy, and with a specific machine they turn these blocks into plastic pellets that will be headed to form of a raw material that will be eventually be used for producing other products that make the recycling process done

The difference between the first plastic element that is thrown and the block is that one is in it first form and second that its sorted and crushed to be used as third element that is the final recycled product that is ready for consumption.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad sequence from disposal and collection through sorting and processing to the production of new goods, so the response is relevant to the diagram. However, the account is only partial: it omits the washing stage and the return arrow that makes this a continuous cycle, and it incorrectly says the blocks are turned directly into pellets. The diagram shows crushing and washing before pellets are produced. The final comparison about the “first plastic element” and “the block” is unclear and does not replace a clear overview of the cycle’s main features. The response also falls 10 words short of the required minimum. To improve, include all key stages accurately and state explicitly that recycled material is made into products that can re-enter the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic chronological order, beginning with a person discarding a bottle and moving towards the production of new products. However, nearly the entire process is compressed into one long sentence, so the stages are difficult to follow and the relationships between them are not clearly signposted. The second sentence introduces a comparison, but “the first plastic element” and “the block” are not explained clearly, which interrupts the progression. Use separate sentences or paragraphs for collection and sorting, processing, and the final products. Linking expressions such as “Next,” “After washing,” and “Finally” would make the sequence easier to track, while a brief overview at the start would give the response a clearer overall structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “blocks,” “crushing,” “raw material,” and “recycling center,” which helps convey the general topic. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or repetitive. “Trash” and “trash trucks” are less suitable for a formal process description than “recycling bin” and “collection truck”; “elements” is vague for plastic bottles or material. The phrase “form of a raw material” is also awkward, and “consumption” does not accurately describe the range of end products shown. Aim for precise terms such as “washed plastic,” “pellets,” and “manufactured products,” and avoid repeating general words when the diagram provides more specific labels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to connect several stages using a complex sentence, but this structure is often faulty and makes the process hard to read. For example, “The process … start when an individual throw” has subject–verb agreement errors, while “that will be after collected” has an incorrect verb construction. The long opening sentence also lacks clear punctuation and contains several clauses joined without effective control. In the second sentence, “one is in it first form” and “second that its sorted” show problems with articles, pronouns, and sentence structure. Practise writing one stage per sentence, using accurate passive forms such as “the bottles are collected” and “the plastic is crushed,” and check agreement and punctuation before combining clauses.

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