Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-08
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 illustration demonstrates that how plastic bottles are recycled and how many steps needs to be done for the whole process of recycling.
Overall, There are nine steps needs to be follow to reproduce the material from waste. Furthermore, it also invovled human labour and each individual process have there own essential role.
Firstly, by each individuals putting the waste from there houses to recyclebin, After that the recycling trucks gather all the waste for recycle and deliver to the recycle centre. where individuals sorting the bottles with analyses by which one bottles can be recycle and send it for the next process. Therefore, compressing all the bottle and then transform into giant blocks.
That the compressed blocks go through the next stage of crushing into small pieces and this pieces directly droped in a water tub where it removes all the dust and clean the plastic. Next stage where it grinded the plastics and go through their heating process and this pellets converted into raw material. This raw material makes several things like, bottles, containers, bags, stationaries and clothes after this step the whole steps taken place after the recycling.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of raw materials. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the transformation process. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the final stages is slightly confusing, particularly the transition between grinding, heating, and pellet production. To improve, ensure that the relationship between the stages is clearly articulated rather than just listing them. The response addresses the prompt adequately but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'Therefore, compressing all the bottle' and 'That the compressed blocks go through'. There are also issues with referencing; for example, 'this pieces' and 'this pellets' are grammatically incorrect and disrupt the flow. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the text feel disjointed in places. Improving the variety and accuracy of transition signals would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'recyclebin' (should be two words), 'stationaries' (stationary is an uncountable noun in this context), and 'invovled' (spelling error). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs like 'gather', 'droped', and 'makes'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'sorted', 'processed', 'granulated', or 'extruded', and ensure correct word forms are used consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a high frequency of grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are persistent issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'steps needs to be follow' and 'each individual process have there own'. Additionally, there are errors in sentence structure, such as 'The illustration demonstrates that how plastic bottles are recycled' and 'That the compressed blocks go through...'. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and pronouns, before attempting more complex grammatical forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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