Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-08

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 5.5)

The figure represents the steps for recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, there are nine phases of redeveloping plastic bottle to use and the first step is to bring bottles from dustbin and last process is production of bottles and other items.

Looking in to the figure, the first is to collect bottles from bin and transferring into the truck and then take them in recycling center and choosing the bottles that can be recycled and after that crushing the bottles in to the blocks and washing the bottles by water but, before that compressing the bottles into blocks is needed.

Turning towards in to the figure, the sixth level is to produce plastic pellets through machine then, heating pellets to form raw material and after that raw material will be ready and at last, different items will be produced. This process again continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process as a cycle and mention several key stages, including collection, sorting, compressing, washing, pellet production, heating and making end products. However, the description is only partial and some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows bottles being sorted into recyclable and rejected groups, but this distinction is not explained, and the final products are not described. The overview also says the last process is the production of bottles and other items, whereas the diagram shows a range of products and then a return to the first stage. The sequence around crushing, compressing and washing is confusing. The response is also below the required 150 words; use the remaining space to clarify the stages and complete the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing stages. The sequence is generally traceable, and phrases such as “after that” and “at last” help signal order. However, progression is weakened by repetition and awkward transitions, including “Looking in to the figure” and “Turning towards in to the figure.” The account of compressing, crushing and washing is especially difficult to follow because the order is first muddled and then partly corrected with “but, before that.” Organise the stages in one clear sequence, grouping the collection and sorting stages separately from processing and end products. Use fewer repeated sequencing phrases and make links between stages more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough process-related vocabulary to communicate the general topic, including “recycling center,” “compressing,” “crushing,” “plastic pellets” and “raw material.” There is also some attempt to vary wording with “phases,” “step” and “level.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “redeveloping plastic bottle to use,” “bring bottles from dustbin” and “choosing the bottles.” Repetition of “bottles” and “after that” also limits flexibility. Choose terms that describe the diagram accurately, such as “discard,” “collect,” “sort” and “manufacture,” and use “recyclable bottles” for the accepted items. More precise collocations would make the process easier to understand and give the vocabulary greater control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect several stages in longer sentences, but these complex structures are often faulty, and the response relies heavily on simple sequencing patterns. Examples include “there are nine phases of redeveloping plastic bottle to use,” “the first is to collect bottles from bin,” and “the sixth level is to produce plastic pellets through machine.” These contain problems with articles, singular and plural forms, and sentence construction. Tense and clause control are also inconsistent in “raw material will be ready and at last, different items will be produced.” Punctuation around connectors is sometimes awkward, as in “then, heating pellets.” Practise writing clear passive process sentences, for example, “The bottles are sorted before being compressed,” and check articles and verb forms in each sentence.

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.