Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-20
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 given flowchart illustarte the system of plastic recycling bottles. And how the palstic pass thorugh different process.
Firstly, humans discard the plastic waste into trash bin. After that garbage are collected via garbage trucks. Plastic bottles and waste come in to a recycling center by turcks.Plastic can be sorted manuallly in various category and sorted plastics in two category in which one is recycle plastic and other one is non-recycle plastic. After recycling the plastics converted into a blocks.Moreover, the compressing block pass thorugh the curshing machine and chunks are washed by water. Afterwards, washed plastic pass through the producing plastic pellets machine and its conveted into a raw materical for plastic making. The raw material passthorught heating machines and its ready for proper raw material. By using the raw material various products are invented just like as cloths,bags,containers,bottles and many more. After this the cycle repect itself again and again.
The daigram shows how we understang the process of recycling in plastic via understandable steps. The process is quite long but it canbe esay to understand.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 stages are identified, the response would benefit from a more analytical approach, such as grouping the stages into logical phases (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing). The final paragraph is redundant and does not contribute to the summary of the information provided in the diagram. To improve, focus on synthesizing the information rather than simply listing each step in a linear fashion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response uses basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'After that', and 'Moreover' to sequence the steps. However, the paragraphing is ineffective; the second paragraph is overly long and contains a dense list of actions, while the final paragraph is unnecessary and adds little value. The flow between sentences is sometimes repetitive, relying heavily on simple chronological markers. To reach a higher band, you should organize the information into distinct, logical paragraphs—for example, one for the collection/sorting phase and another for the transformation/manufacturing phase—and use a wider variety of linking words to improve the logical progression.
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 spelling errors, such as 'illustarte', 'palstic', 'thorugh', 'curshing', and 'conveted'. Additionally, some word choices are awkward, such as 'invented' when referring to manufactured goods. While you successfully use some process-related terms like 'recycling center', 'raw material', and 'pellets', the range is limited. To improve, focus on accurate spelling and using more precise verbs related to industrial processes, such as 'processed', 'transformed', or 'manufactured'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The given flowchart illustarte', 'cycle repect itself') and article usage errors ('in to a recycling center', 'pass thorught heating machines'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of basic errors prevents the text from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and proofreading for common typographical errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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