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 given diagram describes the process for recycling plastic bottles in 9 steps.
As we can see from the diagram, first people throw plastic items like bottles into the trash and after that trash is taken to the factories for recycling by truck. At recycling center bottles are identify whether they can be recycled or not through the process of sorting , further the bottles which can be recycled are compressed into blocks and then it goes to the process of crushing the blocks into tiny particles and those particles goes into the process of washing where it is put in a big basket of water for cleaning.
After washing it made into the plastic pellets by putting in its special machine and then to form raw materials pellets are being heated at high temperature. Afterword, raw material are produced and then it is converted into the products like clothes , bottle and lunch boxes.
In conclusion, to make products from the plastic bottles it requires a lot of process and special equipment to produce desired products.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 new items. The main features are identified, and the sequence is logical. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole, which is a requirement for Band 7. The description is somewhat mechanical, listing steps rather than synthesizing the information. To improve, you should include an introductory overview that highlights the cyclical nature of the process or the key transformation stages, rather than just stating the number of steps.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and the sequence of the process is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices like 'first', 'after that', and 'in conclusion'. However, the use of these devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Some transitions, such as 'further the bottles', are slightly awkward. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the flow between sentences is smoother, avoiding the overuse of simple time-based connectors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You use general terms like 'things', 'special machine', and 'big basket', which lack the precision expected in an academic report. There are also some minor word-choice issues, such as 'bottles are identify' (should be 'identified') and 'afterword' (should be 'afterwards'). To improve, incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'shredded', 'processed', 'extruded', or 'raw material conversion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the flow, such as subject-verb agreement ('those particles goes', 'raw material are produced') and article usage ('in its special machine'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralization would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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