Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-14
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 through which plastic bottles are recycled. Overall, plastic bottles passes through nine different stages starting from collecting them from trash baskets and finally producing bottles and other products.
In detail, firstly, people put bottles into trash from where these are collected by recycling team. At recycling centre, they sort bottles in a specific order. In the next stage, they are compressed into blocks and then crushed into small particles. In the fifth stage, these small pieces of bottles are washed and then produced plastic pellets using a machine. In the next stage, these pellets are heated to form raw material and this raw material is then used to produce plastic boxes and other products made with plastic.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the student identifies the main stages of the recycling process, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully develop the response. The overview is present but basic. To improve, the student needs to expand on the description of each stage, perhaps by mentioning the specific inputs or outputs at each step, and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive summary of the process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. The use of sequencing words such as 'firstly', 'in the next stage', and 'finally' helps the reader follow the progression. However, the paragraphing is limited; the response would benefit from a clearer separation between the introduction/overview and the body paragraphs. The cohesive devices are somewhat mechanical, and the flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the stages of the process more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies on repetitive phrasing such as 'in the next stage' and 'produced'. There is an attempt to use process-related terminology like 'compressed', 'crushed', and 'pellets', which is positive. However, to reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to industrial processes and avoid repeating simple verbs. The range is currently limited, which restricts the ability to describe the process with greater nuance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Subject-verb agreement is an issue, for example, 'plastic bottles passes' should be 'plastic bottles pass'. There are also minor errors in article usage and sentence structure, such as 'at recycling centre' (missing 'the') and 'produced plastic pellets' (should be 'produce' or 'are produced into'). While the meaning is generally clear, the range of grammatical structures is limited to simple and compound sentences. Incorporating more complex sentence structures would improve the overall accuracy and range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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