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 flowchart illustrates the procedure for reusing plastic bottles.The flow chart illustrating how the plastic bottles are reprocessed.
Firstly,the individual throw plastic in the garbage container after its usage then the waste material is collected from the bin afterwards the car brings the raw material to recycle centre for sorting.After the process of sorting the raw material is then compressed into blocks rapidly, then the blocks are further go through the procedure of crushing and washing afterwards the crushed material produce the plastic pallets by using machine.
AS further,the plastic pallete converted into raw material,therefore raw material is converted into small packs that are easy to hold.
At then end of this reusing procedure the raw material is then converted into many usefull household products which are used in our daily life,such as plastic bags,stationary,lunch boxes made of plastic have been made using the recycled material.Therefore this process can be used to meet our daily life need.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| 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 household items. However, the overview is missing; a summary of the main features (e.g., the cyclical nature of the process) is required for a higher band. The description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, professional tone. While the key steps are identified, the explanation of the transition from 'plastic pallets' to 'raw material' is slightly confusing and lacks technical precision. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview sentence after the introduction and focus on describing the process stages more concisely without unnecessary repetition.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response uses some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'afterwards', and 'therefore', but their use is often mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. The paragraphing is weak; the text is essentially one long block, which hinders the logical flow of information. There is a lack of clear progression between the stages of the process. To improve, organize your writing into distinct paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph for the initial stages, and a body paragraph for the final stages. Use a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more naturally rather than relying on simple sequential markers.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'raw material' and 'converted into' are used multiple times, which limits the range. There are also some inaccuracies, such as 'plastic pallets' (likely meaning 'pellets') and 'stationary' (which refers to paper/writing materials, not the items themselves). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'shredded', 'processed', 'manufactured', or 'transformed'. Avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the individual throw plastic'), subject-verb agreement issues ('the crushed material produce'), and punctuation errors (missing spaces after commas). Sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity, such as 'the blocks are further go through the procedure'. These errors occasionally make the text difficult to follow. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that articles are used correctly. Proofreading for punctuation and basic tense consistency will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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