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 provided layout illustrates the data regarding the steps involved in recycling of plastic bottles.

Overall, this nine step process begins with collection of plastic bottles and again converting that into raw material for the commercial goods containing plastic and continues again.

The plastic bottles gathered in the recycling bins are carried on four-wheeler, so that these containers can be sorted by hand. The bottles are compressed into blocks right after the sorting process and then crushed into small fragments.

Once the crushing is done, the material is washed in a container below the crushing machine to prepare the substance to be converted into plastic pellets. The plastic pellets are heated up to be packed as raw material for the finished products consisting of plastic.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description of the process. While you have identified the main stages of the recycling process, the under-length nature of the response means that the information is presented in a somewhat rushed manner. To improve, you should expand on the details provided in the diagram, such as describing the specific equipment or the transition between stages more thoroughly. Because the response is 25 words short of the requirement, it cannot be awarded a higher band for task achievement, as the coverage of the process is incomplete.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of the recycling process. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'Once the crushing is done' and 'then', which assist in linking the steps. However, the flow is somewhat mechanical, and the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be smoother. To reach a higher band, ensure that you use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more naturally, rather than relying on simple sequential markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'compressed', 'fragments', and 'raw material' being relevant to the topic. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'carried on four-wheeler' (which should be 'transported by truck') and 'commercial goods containing plastic'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes and avoid repetitive phrasing. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you describe the stages with greater clarity and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'recycling of plastic bottles' (missing 'the') and 'the commercial goods containing plastic' (which is slightly unnatural). There are also some issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more error-free sentences and demonstrate a better command of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions, which are particularly useful when describing industrial processes.

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

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