Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-30

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 the process for recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, the process includes 9 stages for recycling. Starts from throwing used bottles in dustbin to the final stage involves manufacturing of recycled bottles, Plastic bags, shirts and boxes.

At first, individuals put wasted bottles in recycle bin. The used bottles then transported towards the recycling centre through heavy vehicles. In the recycling centre, sorting had been done, and the best-suited bottles selected for recycling. Further bottles compressed into the blocks.

In the next stage, bottles crushed into the smaller-pieces and then washed in the water. After that plastic pellets produced in the specialized machine.

Produced plastic pellets then heated to form a powdered raw material. Raw material then changed into the rectangular-shaped blocks. Now finally these rectangular raw materials are ready to manufacture different things like, recycled bottles, plastic bags, pencils, lunch boxes for children and also shirts.

So the process is lengthy but includes easy steps to re-use the waste material into a useful products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the manufacturing of new products. However, the overview is slightly weak; it focuses on counting the steps rather than highlighting the key trends or the cyclical nature of the process. While the main features are identified, the description of the stages is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear summary of the transition from raw waste to finished goods. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview synthesizes the information more effectively rather than just listing the number of steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized logically, following the chronological order of the process. Paragraphing is used to separate the stages, which helps the reader follow the flow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive (e.g., 'At first', 'In the next stage', 'After that'). The transition between sentences could be smoother to avoid a list-like feel. Referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the final products and the initial waste could be better highlighted to improve the overall cohesion of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the process clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'specialized machine' and 'raw material'. However, there are minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'wasted bottles' (should be 'waste bottles' or 'used bottles') and 'sorting had been done' (passive voice usage is slightly awkward). The range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and articles (e.g., 'Starts from throwing', 'bottles then transported', 'into the smaller-pieces'). The use of the passive voice is appropriate for a process description, but it is not always executed accurately. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.

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

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