Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28

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 illustrate the whole process of recycling plastic bottles. I am going to summarize the data by selecting and reporting the main features.

First of all, when we wasted the bottles in the dustbin. Then the recycled truck came, the bottles were put into it. After collecting the bottles, the truck go in the recycling center where the bottles are sorting out. The bottles that are in the good and bad shape, they are get separated. In the next step, the bottles had compressed into the blocks. The compressed blocks put into the crushing machine in which they crushed into the small pieces. The small pieces of blocks washed in the water container as shown in the diagram. The small pieces of blocks put into the machine that produced plastic pellets then heated pellets on the heated surface to form raw material.

Finally, the raw material converted into the rectangular shape. From the raw material, many products are formed like pencils, lunch boxes, bags etc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, but it lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole. The introduction is slightly informal and includes unnecessary meta-commentary ('I am going to summarize...'). While the key steps are identified, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks the analytical comparison expected at this level. The conclusion is a list of products, which is relevant, but the overall development of the response is limited by a lack of cohesive synthesis between the stages. To improve, focus on grouping the stages logically and providing a clear summary of the process flow in the introduction.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized chronologically, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive, relying heavily on 'First of all', 'Then', and 'Finally'. Paragraphing is also problematic; the response is essentially one long block of text, which hinders readability. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect the stages of the process more fluidly. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of transition signals and ensure that your paragraphing clearly separates the introduction, the process stages, and the final output.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. You rely on simple verbs like 'put', 'go', and 'get', which are not ideal for describing a technical process. Phrases like 'good and bad shape' are imprecise. There is an attempt to use some process-related vocabulary such as 'compressed', 'crushing', and 'pellets', which is positive. To improve, incorporate more specific verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'sorted', 'processed', 'transformed', and 'manufactured', to demonstrate a more sophisticated range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice construction. For example, 'the truck go in the recycling center' should be 'the truck goes to the recycling center', and 'the bottles had compressed' should be 'the bottles are compressed'. The sentence structure is often repetitive and lacks complexity. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of the present simple passive voice for process descriptions.

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