Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-29

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 graph illustrate information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comprasions where relevant. 0verall, the recycling process consists of several stages, beginning with the collection of used bottles and ending with the production of new products.

ınitially , used plastic bottles are collected and transported to a recycling centre. then They are sorted before being washed. After that bottles sorted by human and then compressing into blocks. Then they transported machine for crushing . Next they washed in big cup . After that produced plastic pellets before meltinh pellets to form raw material. in contrast Next, the bottles are crushed into small pieces and melted. after healting pellets to from raw material ,they are packaged. finally , the recycled material is used to produce new plastic products like t-shirt , pencil , bottle , glass containerand recycle package . You can use recycle products and then recycle again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, logical flow. The student includes some irrelevant information, such as the instruction to 'use recycle products and then recycle again,' which is not part of the provided diagram. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in describing the specific steps (e.g., the confusion between sorting, washing, and crushing) means the information is not fully developed or accurately reported. The introduction also incorrectly copies the prompt instructions rather than paraphrasing the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into a brief introduction and a body paragraph, but the internal structure is weak. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'initially', 'then', 'after that'), they are often used mechanically or incorrectly, such as the abrupt 'in contrast' which does not fit the context. The progression of ideas is frequently interrupted by repetitive steps and unclear referencing. Paragraphing is insufficient, as the entire process description is crammed into one block, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of the recycling stages effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'bottles', 'plastic', and 'recycled'. There are several spelling errors, such as 'comprasions', 'meltinh', 'healting', and 'from' (instead of 'form'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a technical process with precision. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of variety and the frequent spelling mistakes hinder the overall quality of the writing. More precise verbs and technical nouns related to industrial processes are needed to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The graph illustrate'), missing articles, and incorrect sentence structure (e.g., 'Then they transported machine for crushing'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with irregular spacing and capitalization errors throughout the text. The range of structures is limited to simple sentences, and attempts at more complex constructions are often faulty. These errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, though the general meaning remains understandable.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.