Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05

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 diagram illustrates the process of recycling of plastic bottles .

Overall , there 9 steps in total . We think that recycling plastic is impossible but actually it can be recycled and used again so that there would not be any unwanted pollution which would be harmful for earth .

In the first step the plastic bottles are dumped into the dumpster which is then collected by the recycling truck and then in the third step after the truck drops off the bottles the plastic bottles are sorted into 2 kinds the ones which can be recycled and the ones which cannot be recycled . After the sorting process then the bottles are compressed into blocks under a high pressure .

After the compression then the blocks are crushed into very tiny particles which then undergo washing and plastic pallets are produced which is actually the raw material , after the heating of the raw material it is finally ready and the raw material is packed which can then again be used to produce plastic products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, but it fails to maintain an academic tone. The inclusion of personal opinions like 'We think that recycling plastic is impossible' is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which should be objective and descriptive. While the main features are identified, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the overall process. The description of the steps is generally accurate, but the lack of formal reporting style prevents it from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, with frequent use of 'and then' and 'after'. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. While the logical progression of the process is clear, the lack of varied linking words and the informal nature of the opening paragraph limit the coherence of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'dumped into the dumpster' and 'very tiny particles' are somewhat simplistic. There is a reliance on basic descriptive language rather than technical or process-oriented vocabulary. While the meaning is clear and communication is not impeded, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, the sentence 'Overall , there 9 steps in total' is missing a verb, and there are inconsistent uses of articles and prepositions throughout. While the meaning remains understandable, the grammatical control is inconsistent, and the punctuation is often non-standard, which affects the overall flow and professionalism of the writing.

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

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