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)

This diagram illustrate the process of recycling plastic bott;es.First of all a man that dump the plastic bottle in the basket. Its a recycling process that guides how plastic reused.Secondly a garbage truck carry all type of trash from the basket and then next we saw how recycling centre sorting mean seperate the trash so in the process of sortimg plastic can be seperated from the trash and other type of trash material can be burn or recyled in another way.After sorting all type plastic can throw in to compression in to block.furthermore we can see plastic can b crushing in the cruser plastic can be crushed in to piece and then washing the plastic or the piece of plastic can be thrown in ti producting plastic pellets that can produce heating pellets to from raw materia.In addition we can see that raw matterial are saturated in to blocks and then it can used make many products like bottles,pencils,plastic bags and boxes.then in last we see a man who throw the trash in the basket.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main stages, from putting bottles in a bin and collection to sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating, and making new products. You also recognise that the process loops back to the start. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the truck is described as carrying “all type of trash,” while the diagram shows plastic bottles being collected, and the account of rejected material being burned or recycled elsewhere is not shown. The overview is also not clearly separated from the stage-by-stage description. To make the report more complete and precise, state the overall cycle clearly, then describe only the stages and outcomes visible in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The stages are generally presented in the correct order, and sequencing phrases such as “First of all,” “Secondly,” “furthermore,” and “then” help the reader follow the process. The final reference to throwing bottles into the basket also signals the loop. However, the response is one continuous paragraph, so the overview and process details are not clearly organised. Several transitions are mechanical or awkward, and some links between stages are unclear—for example, “thrown in ti producting plastic pellets” and the move from pellets to heating. Use a brief overview followed by a logically grouped description, and make each transition show the actual relationship between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling centre,” “sorting,” “compression,” “crushed,” “pellets,” and “raw material.” This gives the reader a basic sense of the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings make the description difficult to understand, such as “raw matterial are saturated in to blocks,” “cruser,” and “bott;es.” Some phrases are also imprecise, including “all type of trash” and “many products.” Choose accurate process terms and check spelling; for example, describe plastic as being “compressed into blocks,” “washed,” and “heated to form raw material.” Naming the products shown would also make the vocabulary more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to connect stages in longer sentences, but sentence structures are often faulty, and grammatical errors frequently make relationships between actions unclear. For example, “This diagram illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “a man that dump the plastic bottle” is not a complete, well-formed description. Verb forms and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent in “plastic can b crushing” and “then it can used make many products.” Use a consistent present simple passive for the process, such as “The bottles are collected,” “They are sorted,” and “The plastic is washed.” Shorter, complete sentences with accurate articles, agreement, and punctuation would improve clarity before you attempt more complex structures.

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