Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16

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 steps involved in the process of recycling of the plastic bottles, that begin from collecting the bottles till producing useful end products.

Overall the process includes collecting bottles, transporting to the recycling centers, compressing and crushing them. Where further they go through some other important steps till the finish product is achieved.

The first step is collecting the bottles, where they are handpicked by the workers. Handpicked bottles are then dumped in the loader through which these bottles are transported to the recycling centers. Once bottles are in the recycling units, these bottles are sorted by workers in two different compartments. Ones that are recyclable and others that are of no use. The recyclable bottles are then compressed into the big square blocks.

These blockas are now ready for crushing using the crushing muchine which is made of two gears through which these bloacks are passed for crushing. The crushed material is then washed in a big tank which is then ready to move into a mill. These mill will take crushed material and reform it into plastic pallets, later on the process of heating these pallets takes place whic

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of plastic pellets. However, the response is incomplete, as it cuts off abruptly at the end of the final paragraph while describing the heating stage. This prevents a full summary of the process. While the main features are identified, the lack of a conclusion or a complete description of the final stages limits the development of the response. To improve, ensure that the entire process is described clearly and that the response is brought to a logical conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'The first step is...', 'These... are then...'). The abrupt ending significantly impacts the overall coherence, as the text fails to provide a finished summary. While there is a logical progression through the initial steps, the lack of a concluding sentence or a completed final stage makes the overall structure feel unfinished and disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'recycling centers', 'handpicked', and 'compressed'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'blockas' and 'bloacks' for 'blocks', and 'muchine' for 'machine'. Additionally, the phrasing is sometimes slightly unnatural, such as 'till the finish product is achieved'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the errors in spelling and word choice occasionally draw attention, though they do not fully impede the reader's understanding of the process.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'recycling of the plastic bottles, that begin' (incorrect relative clause usage), 'These mill will take' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'whic' (incomplete sentence). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors, combined with the incomplete final sentence, suggests a lack of control over more complex structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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