Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-19
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 various stages involved in the recycling process of plastic bottles.
Firstly, used plastic bottles are thrown to the dustbin. From the different dustbins garbage van collect it and transfer it to the recycling centre, where whole recycling process will be made. recycling process starts here by sorting the plastic bottle in different container. Then all the plastic bottles are compressed into the blocks and these blocks crushed with the help of rolling crushing machines. Crushed parts of the plastic transfer for the washing purpose and then it produce the plastic pellets. Plastic pellets heated to form a raw material for further process. Raw material made up from the pellet collected at one place processed to produced the different products such as plastic bottle, tin, bag etc. And after usage, again these used products thrown away.
In conclusion, used plastic items are converted for the reuse purpose with the recycling process.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. While the key steps are identified, the response fails to highlight the cyclical nature of the process effectively. The inclusion of 'tin' and 'bag' as examples is slightly problematic as the diagram specifically focuses on plastic bottles, which suggests a slight misinterpretation of the visual data. To reach a higher band, you should provide a more analytical overview that synthesizes the information rather than simply listing the steps in chronological order.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Then', and 'In conclusion' to signal the progression of stages. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the report is contained within a single paragraph, which hinders the logical flow. Additionally, some transitions are repetitive or mechanical. To improve, you should group related stages into distinct paragraphs—for example, one for the collection and sorting phase, and another for the processing and manufacturing phase—to enhance the overall structure and readability of your report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'thrown to the dustbin', 'transfer it', and 'produce the plastic pellets' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher levels. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'whole recycling process will be made' and 'raw material made up from the pellet'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'transported', 'shredded', 'extruded', or 'reprocessed'. Expanding your range of verbs and nouns will help you describe the stages with greater accuracy and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at passive voice, such as 'bottles are compressed' and 'crushed parts... transfer for the washing purpose', there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'garbage van collect it' (subject-verb agreement), 'sorting the plastic bottle in different container' (missing article/pluralization), and 'processed to produced' (incorrect verb form). These errors occur frequently and occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, consistent use of articles, and varying your sentence structure by incorporating more complex clauses to describe the relationships between the different stages of the process.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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