Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23

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 diagram illustrates the procedure of how plastic bottles are recycled. As it can be observed, there is a total of nine steps involved in the process.

To begin with, the plastic bottle is thrown in a recycle bin and later is taken up by a truck that solely collects recyclable materials. The third step is the sorting process which is done at a recycling centre, here the material's quality is inspected and sorted accordingly. The approved items are then compressed into blocks which makes it easier for crushing.

The crushed plastics are eventually washed and run through a machine to produce plastic pellets that would be heated to form raw materials. These raw materials are then used as a main component for producing end products such as school supplies, clothes etc.

Overall, it can be noticed that, recycling process of plastic bottles tends to be long and tedious, but it is considered to have a huge impact on the ecosystem.

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 raw materials. However, the summary lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole, which is a requirement for Band 7. While the steps are identified, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks the analytical comparison or synthesis of the stages required for a higher band. The final sentence, which describes the process as 'long and tedious', is subjective and not supported by the diagram, which is a slight deviation from the objective tone required for Academic Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the nine steps. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, the main body of the process, and the concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'The third step', and 'eventually' are used to guide the reader. However, the transition between the sorting process and the compression stage could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow is somewhat formulaic, which limits the score to a 6.5 or 7.0 range.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'recyclable materials', 'compressed', and 'raw materials' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'the plastic bottle is thrown' and 'produce plastic pellets that would be heated' are functional but lack the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. There is little use of less common lexical items or idiomatic collocations that would demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'there is a total of nine steps involved' (which is slightly wordy) and 'recycling process of plastic bottles' (missing an article). The sentence 'here the material's quality is inspected' is a comma splice. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a lack of full control over complex structures, keeping the score in the 6.0 range.

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

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