Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24
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 provided diagram outline the stages for recycling plastic bottles ,
Overall, it can be seen that the process of recycling plastic bottles starts with collecting the garbage with the help of truck from the bin in individuals throw garbage . And end with making new products from that garbage .
Firstly , individuals throw their garbage into bin . After that , trucks used to collect that garbage from bin . subseqently,in recycling centre individuals sort that each garbage accoding to type of garbage . Than with the help of machines this garbage compress into cube blocks .
Secondly , those cube blocks goes for crushing machine . After words , this crush garbage went into washing . following this , this matrical went into producing plastic pellets . In next step , the machine grading that plastic into form of raw material . in the final step , with the help of row material it makes producing and products .
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, cohesive overview of the entire cycle. While the key steps are identified, the explanation of the transformation process (e.g., 'crushing' and 'washing') is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the technical progression shown in the diagram. To improve, ensure that the overview paragraph synthesizes the process more effectively rather than just listing the start and end points, and provide more descriptive detail for the intermediate stages.
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 often mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'After that', 'Following this'). There are also issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the awkward phrasing in 'subseqently,in recycling centre individuals sort that each garbage accoding to type of garbage'. The progression of ideas is logical, but the lack of varied linking words and the frequent punctuation errors make the flow feel disjointed. Improving the variety of transition signals and ensuring better sentence connectivity would significantly enhance the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. There are several instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'garbage' (which is better described as 'waste' or 'recyclable material' in this context) and 'matrical' (likely a misspelling of 'material'). The phrase 'making new products' is simple, and the student struggles with collocations, such as 'grading that plastic into form of raw material'. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to industrial processes and avoid repeating the same words throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are consistent issues with article usage ('the recycling centre', 'the machine'), subject-verb agreement ('the machine grading', 'those cube blocks goes'), and word order. Sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting more complex constructions. For example, 'with the help of row material it makes producing and products' is grammatically unclear. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that articles are used correctly before nouns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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