Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-29

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 information regarding how plastic bottles are recycled.It consists of several stages,beginning with people throw the dust and finishing at making different items.

Analysing the chart,the citizens threw the garbage into dustbin.After this,workers sorting the plastic from boxes before it transport to the factory for compressing them into blocks.Then,these blocks cruses with the help of machines.

Furthermore,the small particles are washed through the process .In the sixth stage the particles put into a machine for making plastic pellets and blown them into a place.In another step the pellets are healing to form raw materials.

At eighth step, the unprocessed material packed and put inside a machine for producing different products.In the last step, from these plastics a variety of useable things like clothes,bags,pencils and soon items are ready.

Moreover,this cycle repeat again and again . In this chart the main step is collecting plastic bottles from trash bin.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all stages of the process, from collection to the final product. However, the overview is weak; it merely states that the process consists of several stages rather than highlighting the main features or the cyclical nature of the process. While the information is accurate, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear summary of the key stages. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview in the introduction that synthesizes the main trends or stages of the process, rather than just listing them.

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 somewhat repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on simple sequencing words like 'Then', 'Furthermore', and 'In the last step'. The flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'blown them into a place'. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the transition between steps feels more natural and less like a list.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'healing' instead of 'heating' and 'cruses' instead of 'crushed'. The phrase 'soon items' is also incorrect. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, it does not demonstrate the flexibility or the range of less common items required for a higher score. Focusing on accurate terminology related to industrial processes would significantly enhance your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'people throw the dust' (should be 'people throw away the waste'), 'workers sorting' (should be 'workers sort'), and 'this cycle repeat' (should be 'this cycle repeats'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic verb forms and subject-verb agreement prevents a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy.

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