Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-11
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 given pictogram demonstrates the process for recycling plastic bottles. Overall, there are total nine steps to complete this cycle starting from putting the garbage in a bin to produce new essentials from it.
To begin with, the first ever start of the process is to put all the waste materials into a dustbin. In the second step, the garbage collector vehicle will collect all the waste for the bin. Subsequently, in the recycling factory one worker will distribute all the waste and put the plastic waste in the different box. After that, the waste plastic bottles will move ahead with the help of conveyor and it directly goes to the compressing machine due to this the bottles turn into a huge plastic blocks.
Furthermore, after completing the forth process the blocks have to go through the crushing machine in which, the huge blocks will turn into the small plastic pellets. Moreover, they got washed and the pallets moved ahead and goes to the micro blender machine after that, it turned into small particles. In the eighth process, the particles is heated and form a raw material. Consequently, from that raw material final products are manufactured such as, recycling bags, t-shirts, containers and many more.
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 all stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of final goods. The overview is clear and identifies the total number of steps. However, the description is somewhat mechanical, focusing on a step-by-step narration rather than synthesizing the information into a more analytical summary. While the main features are reported, the response lacks a more sophisticated grouping of stages (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing), which would have provided a more professional structure. The information is accurate, but the lack of comparative language or grouping limits the depth of the response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the diagram. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction from the body stages. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Subsequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive or mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking structures rather than relying heavily on sequential markers. Overall, the progression is clear and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the recycling process. Terms like 'compressing machine', 'plastic pellets', and 'raw material' are used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, with frequent use of basic verbs like 'put', 'go', and 'move'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'pictogram' (diagram is more appropriate) and 'forth' instead of 'fourth'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise verbs and 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 errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the particles is heated') and incorrect article usage ('the first ever start'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'due to this the bottles turn into a huge plastic blocks'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. A greater focus on proofreading for pluralization and verb tense consistency would improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.