Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17

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 and turning them into new products.

Firstly, he throw a plastic bottles in recycling bins before being collected by a recycling truck. The bottles was then moved to a recycling centre, where it can be recycled. The recyclable bottles are compressed into large blocks and crushed into small pieces. After it has been crush, they now washed it.

Then, the clean pieces are processed to produce plastic pellets. These pellets are heated to form raw material, which changes as a blocks. Finally, the raw material is used to manufacture and produce new products, including bottles, clothing, bags, pencils, shoes,pen and many other plastic items. These products can also be used and recycled again.

Overall, there are nine main ways of producing and manufacturing new products, starting with the collection of used plastic bottles and ending with the production of various new items.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the manufacturing of new products. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; it mentions 'nine main ways' of producing products, which is not supported by the diagram, as the process is a single linear sequence. While the key features are identified, the description lacks a clear, analytical focus on the transition between stages. To improve, ensure that the overview accurately reflects the process as a whole rather than inventing numerical data, and focus on describing the transformation of the material more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and the sequence of the process is generally easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Then', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the stages. However, there are some issues with referencing; for example, the shift between 'the bottles' (plural) and 'it' (singular) creates confusion. Additionally, the final sentence is somewhat repetitive in its summary of the process. Improving the consistency of pronouns and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, covering the necessary technical steps like 'compressed', 'crushed', and 'manufacture'. However, there is some repetition and minor inaccuracy in word choice, such as 'he throw' (incorrect pronoun and tense) and 'as a blocks' (grammatical error). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs to describe the process. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'shredded', 'processed', or 'reconstituted', and ensure better collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('he throw', 'the bottles was', 'they now washed it') and incorrect article usage ('as a blocks'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic errors in tense and agreement prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is essential for improvement.

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

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