Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-25

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 how plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, it is a repeated cycle consists of nine stages. Begin with waste plastic bottles thrown to trash undergo a process before giving the final products like bottles ,shirts ,bags and pencils.

The process starts with bottles being thrown across different trans cans. Next stage include collection of bottles by garbage trucks. These bottles are transferred to recycling centre for sorting. Plastic bottles are separated into two categories. The right type of bottles are compressed into blocks before crushing with sharp blades. The falling materials are washed by a substance.

In the sixth stage, the materials are transferred into a machine to produce plastic pellets. The resulting pellets are heated to make raw material. These raw material are packed into bags and sent to industry before producing the final products like bottles, pencil, shirts and plastic bags.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a clear overview of the recycling process and identifies the main stages. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the key stages are mentioned, the description of the process is somewhat superficial. For example, the transition from 'raw material' to 'final products' is described briefly without fully detailing the flow of the diagram. To improve, ensure you meet the word count and provide a more detailed summary of the steps, ensuring all parts of the process are clearly explained and compared where relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Next stage', 'In the sixth stage', and 'The resulting pellets' helps to sequence the information. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. The overall progression is clear, but the lack of depth in some areas makes the connection between stages feel slightly disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'recycling centre', 'compressed', and 'raw material' used appropriately. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'thrown across different trans cans' (likely meant 'bins') and 'falling materials' (which is imprecise). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes and avoid repetitive or slightly unnatural word choices.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it is a repeated cycle consists of' (should be 'which consists of'), 'Begin with waste plastic bottles thrown to trash' (missing subject/verb agreement), and 'These raw material are' (subject-verb disagreement). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity of the writing. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and sentence structure will help improve accuracy.

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

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