Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-04
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 whole procedure of recycling plastic bottles to produce a variety of end products.
Used bottles made up of plastic, after collection and transportation to a designated recycling centre undergo sorting, compression into blocks, crushing, washing and then raw material is obtained after heating the plastic pellets.
At the first step, plastic bottles are collected from containers at different places and then they are taken to a recycling place. Then, sorting of the bottles is done to group them into two categories of recyclable and unrecyclable bottles. The recyclable ones are compressed to form a block. The block undergoes crushing to produce smaller pieces, which are washed in a vessel of water. Clean plastic pieces are then fed to a machine to receive pellets of plastic and then the pellets are heated in order to attain the raw material. The raw material is now used to produce different types of new end products like bags, clothes, new bottles and many other items.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all stages of the recycling process, from collection to the creation of end products. The overview is clear, and the main features are highlighted. However, the response could be improved by better integrating the information. The second paragraph acts as a summary of the entire process, while the third paragraph repeats the same information in more detail. This repetition makes the report feel slightly redundant. To reach a higher band, you should aim to present the information in a single, logically flowing narrative rather than summarizing it twice. The key stages are identified accurately, but the connection between the heating of pellets and the final products could be more explicitly linked to the diagram's flow.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into an introduction and two body paragraphs. While the progression of ideas is logical, the structure is somewhat repetitive because the second paragraph essentially restates the process described in the first. The use of cohesive devices such as 'At the first step', 'Then', and 'The recyclable ones' is functional but occasionally mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph contributes unique information to the overall description. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion would benefit from more sophisticated transitions that connect the stages of the process more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'designated recycling centre', 'compressed', and 'raw material' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on fairly basic descriptors. There is some repetition of words like 'bottles' and 'plastic'. To increase your score, incorporate more precise vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'transformed', 'converted', or 'subsequent'. The current lexical range is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher band scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'Used bottles made up of plastic... undergo sorting', which is slightly awkward. Additionally, the phrase 'receive pellets of plastic' is not the most natural collocation; 'produce' or 'generate' would be better. While there are some errors, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on varying your sentence structure further and ensuring subject-verb agreement is consistent. Using more complex structures, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The bottles are then transported...'), would demonstrate better control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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