Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-09

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 picture illustrates the process of recycling plastic bottles and making diffrenet product from it.

It is clearly seen that, the process has total of nine stages in which first one throwing the plastic bottles in dustbine for recycle and the last level is completion of product and cycle continues.

Looking into the figure, in first level one person is throwing the plastic bottle in the recycle signe dustbine and then the waste is collected by the waste mangement truck. In next stage it staff is sorting the plastic bottles in a recycling centre and then the plastic bottles is comprassed into blocks in compressing machines.

Similarly, the compressed block is sent to crushing equipment by which the crushed materials driectly fall for washing and after the wash the material is sent in machine which produceses the plastic pellets. the heat is given to pellets to form raw materila and then raw material is produce by then diffrents products like clothes, bag,pen, bottle and teffin are produce by using raw materials and the cycle contniues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a recycling process and give a useful overview by noting its nine stages and that it forms a continuing cycle. Most key stages are included in the correct order, from collection and sorting through crushing, washing, pellet production and the creation of new products. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the opening says the final stage is “completion of product,” rather than explaining that products feed back into the cycle, and the sorting stage’s separation of suitable and unsuitable bottles is not described. The account of the final products is also difficult to interpret. To strengthen the response, make the overview more precise and report the main transformations clearly, including the return from end products to the recycling bin.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence, supported by paragraphing and time/order signals such as “In next stage,” “Similarly,” and “after the wash.” This helps the reader follow the process from disposal to the production of new goods. However, the progression becomes less clear in the final long sentence, where heating, raw material, products and the cycle returning are crowded together. Some references are also vague, such as “the material” and “then,” making it harder to identify what each stage refers to. Use a separate paragraph for the later processing stages and the final products, and connect each step with precise references and transitions rather than relying on repeated “then” constructions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “crushing,” “washing,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which allows you to cover the main stages. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, spelling and word-form errors make parts difficult to understand, for example “dustbine,” “recycle signe,” “waste mangement,” “comprassed,” and “produceses.” Some expressions are also imprecise: “completion of product” and “clothes” do not clearly describe the diagram’s end products. Aim to learn accurate process collocations and check spelling carefully. More precise terms such as “recycling bin,” “collection truck,” “plastic flakes” and “finished goods” would make the description clearer and more appropriate for an academic process report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the overall sequence can usually be understood. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, particularly in longer constructions. For example, “in first level one person is throwing” lacks an article and uses an awkward tense, while “the plastic bottles is comprassed” has subject–verb disagreement. The sentence beginning “the heat is given to pellets” also combines several stages without clear sentence boundaries, and “raw material is produce” has an incorrect verb form. Use present simple passive forms consistently for a process, such as “the bottles are sorted” and “the pellets are heated.” Shorter, carefully punctuated sentences would help you express the stages accurately while still allowing some complex structures.

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.