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 diagram illustrates process how plastic bottles are recycled .
Overall , it is crystal clear that there are 9 stages in this given process . Starting from throwing plastic bottles into dustbin and ending with producing end products . In the process , every step is as much important as without it , whole process will be disturbed.
In the beginning, process starts from throwing plastic things into dustbin and it was followed by plastic bottles are carried by trucks to recycle it. In the third step, at the recycling centre plastic things are sorted for further process . Then , it is compressed into blocks . In the fifth stage , compressed blocks are crushed to make make mixture of it and then it washed . With the help of machine , it produce plastic pellets . After this stage, pellets are heated to make raw material . In the penultimate step, raw material is formed . Final products will be produced .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection to the final product. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the process's nature (e.g., a linear, industrial cycle). While the main features are identified, the analysis is limited to a step-by-step listing rather than a synthesis of the process. The inclusion of subjective commentary, such as 'every step is as much important', is unnecessary for an Academic Task 1 report, which should remain objective and focused on the data provided in the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression from the beginning to the end of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the beginning', 'In the third step', and 'After this stage' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The paragraphing is functional, but the transition between the introduction and the body could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences occasionally feels disjointed due to the repetitive sentence structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Words like 'things', 'make', and 'process' are used repeatedly, which limits the sophistication of the response. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'make make mixture' and 'produce plastic pellets' (where the subject 'it' is ambiguous). To improve, you should aim to use more precise technical terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'shredded', 'processed', or 'converted', rather than relying on basic verbs.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('illustrates process', 'into dustbin'), subject-verb agreement issues ('it produce plastic pellets'), and awkward phrasing ('as much important as without it'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to detract from the overall clarity and professional tone required for an Academic Task 1 response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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