Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-18

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 plastic bottles recycling procedure.

overall, the waste plastic bottles get collected to a truck and transport by a lorry to the recycling center for produce plastic pellets. These plastic pellets are use produce end products such as plastic bottles, bags, lunch boxes and tec.

Initial waste materials collect to a truck and transport to the recycling center. In that point, all the things undergo by sorting mechanism to separate the waste according to the building material, naely plastic, iron, paper and etc. Sorted plastic bottles have been compressed into blocks and then crushes in to a water tank. When the crushed plastic parts drops into the water tank, it subjected to a washing process.

After the washing, this plastics go for production machine for produce plastic pellets. After this process, plastic pellets are formed. then, this pellets have been used for produce end products as row material.

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 end products. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the entire cycle. While the key features are identified, the explanation of the sorting and washing stages is slightly disjointed. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly synthesizes the process rather than just listing steps. The inclusion of 'etc' and 'tec' is informal and inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 response, which requires a more formal and precise tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as 'In that point' instead of 'At this stage'. The transition between the sorting and washing phases is abrupt. Furthermore, the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly with the use of 'this' to refer to plural nouns like 'plastics' and 'pellets'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent pronoun-noun agreement would significantly enhance the flow of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'get collected to a truck' and 'undergo by sorting mechanism'. The use of informal abbreviations like 'tec' and 'etc' is not suitable for academic writing. Additionally, there are errors in word formation, such as 'row material' instead of 'raw material'. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise technical terminology and avoiding informal, conversational language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('waste materials collect', 'plastic parts drops') and incorrect verb forms ('are use produce', 'is subjected to a washing process'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct verb tense usage is essential.

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

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