Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07
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 illustrates the stages for constructing plastic bottles that are recycled.
Overall, used plastic bottles experience several manufacturing steps to make fresh polyester products, including clothing, stationery, bags, bottles and boxes.
Once the plastic bottles are thrown in recycling bin, they get transported to the recycling centre by trucks, where plastics are organised into different grades. After that, the selected ones are packed into cubes using pressure. Up to this point, it can be crushed through the cutting machines. The plastic pieces and fragments soon fall into a massive liquid-filled tank for washing. As soon as these clean plastic pellets pour into a machine, thinner pellets are ready to get heated from a base.
At this stage, raw material is formed. It is then sorted into layers and secured using some ropes. At the end, the raw material-plastic, is transformed into various goods with different decorative designs through lots of manufacturing industries.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new goods. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the transition from 'raw material' to 'various goods' is vague and lacks the detail present in the diagram regarding the specific transformation into polyester chips or fiber. While the overview is present, the report would benefit from a more precise summary of the technical stages, such as the heating and extrusion processes, rather than general descriptions like 'some ropes' or 'lots of manufacturing industries'. The response addresses the task but lacks the depth required for a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and the progression of the process is generally easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Once', 'After that', 'At this stage', and 'At the end' are used to link the steps. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'Up to this point, it can be crushed', where the antecedent for 'it' is ambiguous. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and the body of the process, which helps the reader navigate the information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the process clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'organised into different grades' and 'transformed', but there are also instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'constructing plastic bottles' (the diagram shows recycling, not construction) and 'massive liquid-filled tank'. The use of 'raw material-plastic' is slightly awkward. To improve, the student should focus on more precise technical collocations related to industrial processes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'plastic bottles are thrown in recycling bin' lacks an article, and 'ready to get heated from a base' is an awkward construction. There are also minor issues with preposition usage and phrasing, such as 'transformed into various goods... through lots of manufacturing industries'. Despite these errors, the grammar does not impede communication, and the writer demonstrates a reasonable command of sentence structure.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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