Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-12
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 plastic bottles with subsequential stages.
Overall, it is clear recycling plastic bottles have seven subsequential stages started with plastic waste material and culminating in production of products.
Looking at the first stage, the pastic waste material collects and loaded on the truck. Similarly, these plastic waste material then sorted with compressing into blocks. These blocks are crushing in stage five that is ready for the wash.
Regarding the remaining stages, these clean plastic partical is producing palstic pallets for further step. In stage seven, these plastic pallets heat under the warm stoves and form a raw material that ready for production. In the final stage, the prepared raw material is useful for different purposes such as pencils, boxes and clothes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 127 words. This significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description of the process. While the main stages are identified, the lack of length prevents a thorough summary and detailed reporting of the process. The overview is present but brief, and the description of the stages is somewhat mechanical and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the task requirements. To improve, you must expand on the descriptions of each stage, ensuring you cover all steps shown in the diagram with sufficient detail to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into a brief introduction and two body paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed due to the limited length. Cohesive devices such as 'Looking at the first stage' and 'Regarding the remaining stages' are used, but they are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by grammatical errors, which makes the text feel slightly fragmented. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus that transitions smoothly into the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. There are several spelling errors, such as 'pastic' instead of 'plastic' and 'partical' instead of 'particles'. Additionally, word choices like 'warm stoves' are imprecise for an industrial recycling process. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic terms throughout. To improve, focus on using more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to industrial processes and ensure you proofread for spelling mistakes, which currently detract from the professional tone of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'recycling plastic bottles have seven subsequential stages started' (subject-verb agreement and participle usage) and 'these plastic waste material collects and loaded' (passive voice errors). There are also issues with pluralization, such as 'these clean plastic partical is producing'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors is high. Focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct formation of passive voice structures, which are essential for describing processes.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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