Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-04

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)

In the given diagram it shows the reclycling process of plastic bottles in the first step it shows that a person is throwing plastic bottle in the box then a truck come to collect that bottles when the truck reaches its destination there are workers who seperate bottles which are good to go for recycle and those bottles which are not able to be recycled after that those bottles passes through the process known as compressing which convert these bottles in a compressed block shape after compressing now its time for crushing when this hug block of compressed plastic bottles crushed it goes for washing process it forms a shape of small plastic pellets after that these small plastic pellets are heated to make raw material and that raw material is used to make products like shopping bags lunch boxes pens and many more this process is known as recycling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1. The information is presented as a chronological narrative rather than a structured report. While the key stages are identified, the lack of paragraphing makes it difficult to distinguish between the different phases of the process. To improve, you should group the stages logically (e.g., collection/sorting, processing, and manufacturing) and include an introductory overview that highlights the main purpose of the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single, long paragraph, which significantly impacts the coherence of the report. There is a lack of logical paragraphing to separate the distinct stages of the process. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'after that' and 'when', they are repetitive and used in a mechanical way. The flow of ideas is somewhat disjointed because the text lacks clear transitions between the different phases of recycling. To improve, you should use paragraph breaks to group related information and vary your linking words to create a more natural progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'good to go' and 'not able to be recycled' are informal and lack the precision required for an academic report. There are also some spelling errors, such as 'reclycling' and 'seperate'. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'sorted', 'processed', 'compressed', and 'manufactured', and ensure accurate spelling throughout your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response consists almost entirely of simple sentences or run-on sentences connected by 'and'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which are necessary to demonstrate grammatical range. Additionally, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'a truck come' (subject-verb agreement), 'those bottles passes' (subject-verb agreement), and 'this hug block' (incorrect adjective form). Punctuation is also missing, as the entire response is one long sentence without periods or commas to separate ideas. Focusing on sentence variety and basic grammatical accuracy will help improve your score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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