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-made chart represent the steps involved in the process for the manufacturing of recycling plastic bottles.
Overall, it is crystal clear that there are total nine steps in recycling plastics bottles begin with disposal of garbage dumps and end with the final step with production of end products.
At a fleeting glance, initial steps with collecting the garbage dumps such as bottles ,trash , plastics bags so on into garbage trucks. where the garbage truck transfer the waste into specialised recycling center. so the worker manually sort the heavy and light garbage through sorting process in the recycling centre. the remaining steps involve mainly transforming and manufacturing.
Moving ahead, waste then compressed into tiny blocks for further steps and then through crushing tiny fragments broken down to form plastic pellets.in next step pellets are serve as raw material in the manufacture companies. in the end raw materials used as various products for producing bags,clothes,tiffin so on.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 new items. However, the description is somewhat superficial. While the prompt asks for a summary and comparison, the student provides a chronological list of steps without highlighting key features or making meaningful comparisons between the stages. The overview is present but lacks depth, and some details are slightly inaccurate, such as the claim that there are 'total nine steps,' which is not clearly supported by the visual data. To improve, focus on grouping the stages logically (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing) and providing a more analytical summary of the transformation process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the chronological flow. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, phrases like 'Moving ahead' and 'At a fleeting glance' are used somewhat unnaturally. There are also issues with sentence boundaries, such as starting sentences with lowercase letters ('the remaining steps...', 'in next step...') and fragmented sentence structures. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between ideas feels disjointed rather than smooth. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words and ensuring consistent punctuation would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. The student relies on simple terms like 'garbage,' 'things,' and 'products.' There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'man-made chart' (which is unnecessary) and 'pellets are serve as raw material.' The use of 'tiffin' is specific but perhaps not the most appropriate term for a general academic report. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise, technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'sorted,' 'compressed,' 'extruded,' or 'reprocessed,' and demonstrate better control over word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are persistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('chart represent,' 'pellets are serve'), missing articles ('in next step,' 'in the end raw materials used'), and incorrect preposition usage. The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting more complex constructions. Punctuation is inconsistent, with several sentences starting with lowercase letters and missing commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic errors in grammar and punctuation prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.