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 diagram below illustrates the process for recycling plastic bottles.
Overall, the process consists of 9 stages, beginning with throwing bottles in the trash and after some stages it ends with new products such as new bottles and shirts.
First, after throwing plastic things in the trash, the recycling trucks take these bottles to the recycling center, which is called sorting, when workers choose between recyclable and non-recyclable bottles. After that, the compressing process, when they unite a large quantity of them and compress them into squares. Next, they crush these bottle squares and put the result in the washing pool. Then, the results of crushing pass through a machine to produce plastic pellets.
After getting plastic pellets, they heat the pellets to get raw material. This material is used to produce new brands of shirts and different sizes of bottles and lunch boxes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a clear overview of the recycling process, identifying the main stages from collection to the production of new items. However, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the score. While the key features are highlighted, the description of the stages is somewhat simplistic. For instance, the transition from 'crushing' to 'washing' is mentioned, but the technical details of the process could be more thoroughly developed to better reflect the information provided in the diagram. To improve, ensure you meet the word count and provide a more detailed summary of the specific steps shown in the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph describing the process, and a concluding sentence. The use of cohesive devices such as 'First', 'After that', 'Next', and 'Then' helps to guide the reader through the chronological stages of the process. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, as the body of the report is contained within a single large paragraph. Dividing the process into two distinct stages (e.g., collection/sorting vs. processing/manufacturing) would improve the overall structure and flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for describing a process, including terms like 'recycling center', 'compress', and 'raw material'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'plastic things' and 'unite a large quantity' are imprecise and lack the academic tone required for Task 1. To achieve a higher band score, you should aim to use more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'segregation', 'compacted', or 'transformed'. The current vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message but lacks the flexibility and precision expected at higher levels.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'which is called sorting, when workers choose' is slightly awkward; it would be better phrased as 'a process known as sorting, where workers separate...'. Additionally, 'the results of crushing pass through' is grammatically functional but could be more sophisticated. There are minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrasing throughout. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.