Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-01

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 man maid process chart represents the process for recycling plastic bottles and making other products.

Overall it is crystal clear that there are 9 steps to complete this process first one garbage the bottles and least one is producing the products.

At a fleeting glance, initially it tends to throw the plastic bottles in dustbin and secondly when the dustbin full of bottles and other garbage then a truck come in street or roads the collects the bottles in big bin. Third step used to sorting the bottles from others particles. Fourth step basically help to compress the large amount of bottles to a small size.

After making the blocks it goes to crushing between large blades and washing came out of it.

Moving further, in sixth step the washing of crushing bottles inserted into machine to make the plastic pellets. Followed by this plastic pellets come in contact of heat which make the raw materials by heating process. The raw materials collected by heating process will converted into new bottles or polythene or pens and lunch box respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, professional overview of the process flow. While the main features are identified, the explanation of certain stages, such as the transition from 'washing' to 'pellets', is slightly underdeveloped. The inclusion of 'man maid' (man-made) and informal phrasing like 'at a fleeting glance' detracts from the academic tone required for Task 1. To improve, focus on synthesizing the information more fluently rather than listing steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'At a fleeting glance' are misused in this context, and the transition between steps relies heavily on simple ordinal numbers (first, secondly, third, fourth). The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'the washing of crushing bottles inserted into machine', where the relationship between the stages is confusing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear logical flow between sentences would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. There are several instances of word-choice errors and non-standard collocations, such as 'garbage the bottles' (instead of 'collecting' or 'disposing of') and 'man maid' (man-made). The use of 'particles' to describe the contents of a bin is also imprecise. While the student attempts to describe technical stages, the lack of accurate terminology limits the score. Expanding the range of vocabulary to include more precise process-related terms would be beneficial.

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 clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('a truck come in street'), incorrect verb forms ('washing of crushing bottles'), and missing articles. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often awkward, such as 'the raw materials collected by heating process will converted into new bottles'. To reach a higher band, the student needs to focus on consistent control of basic grammar, particularly verb tenses and passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing processes.

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

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