Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-15
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 rendered pictorial representation depicts the information of the process of recycling plastic bottles
To commence with, firstly all plastic bottles are collected and transport to Recycling center through truck after that plastic bottles will be Compressed into blocks afterwards, Compressed block will go into Crushing process thereafter, crushed material will be washed and transfer into a machine to produce plastic pellets
Probing ahead with remaining details, in the next step, plastic pellets are heated to form raw material which is used for making goods to sell in markets like pencils, plastic bags, clothes and plastic water bottles.
overall, all the steps are really important in order to make goods from plastic bottles and every step plays an crucial role in the process, skipping a single step can cause a failure in the process
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, which significantly impacts the score. While the process is described, the summary is quite brief and lacks the depth required for a higher band. The overview is also weak, as it focuses on the importance of the steps rather than summarising the main stages of the process. To improve, you should provide a more detailed description of each stage, ensuring you reach the word count, and write a clear overview that highlights the beginning and end points of the cycle.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the flow is hindered by repetitive and mechanical use of transition words like 'after that', 'afterwards', and 'thereafter'. These create a list-like feel rather than a cohesive narrative. The use of referencing is limited, and the connection between sentences could be smoother. To improve, vary your cohesive devices and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. The final paragraph is somewhat redundant and does not contribute effectively to the overall progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally functional but limited. You rely on basic terms such as 'process', 'goods', and 'important'. There is a lack of precise terminology related to industrial processes (e.g., 'granulation' instead of 'produce plastic pellets'). Additionally, there are some errors in word choice and capitalization, such as 'Recycling center' and 'Crushing process', which should not be capitalized. To reach a higher band, aim to incorporate more specific, academic vocabulary and ensure consistent, accurate word usage throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. There are issues with verb forms and tense consistency, such as 'are collected and transport' (should be 'transported') and 'transfer into a machine' (should be 'transferred'). Sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence variety. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and full stops. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and using a wider range of complex sentence structures will help improve your score in this area.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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