Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-07
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 depicts the process of recycling of plastic bottles.
Overall, the whole process is divided into 9 different steps. the initial steps requires for the man power while the steps after 3 steps contains more machinery work.
The first step of this process contains the collection of plastic bottles from the dustbins. After that, all the bottle were transferred to recycling center through transportation vehicles like Truck. After receiving bottles at recycling center, the bottles will be sorted as per its size and quality. Then, those sorted bottles will be moved to the compressing blocks to remove the excessive air from the bottles to reduce its size. After compression, bottles will be dumped in to a crusher to crush the bottles. Then the pellets of plastics will be washed.
At sixth step, the production of raw material from a plastic pallets initiates. in this step, plastic pallets passes through a machine where the pallets will be heated and the heated pallets forms raw material. Then the heated raw material will be leaved to reach at normal temperature. Lastly, from that raw material, companies makes different sorts of products.
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 collection to the creation of new products. The overview is clear, identifying the number of steps and the transition from manual to mechanical labor. However, the description of the process is somewhat linear and lacks a more analytical approach to the 'main features' or comparisons. For instance, the transition between the washing of pellets and the production of raw material could be more clearly linked to the overall transformation. While the task is addressed, the development of the information is basic and could benefit from more precise terminology regarding the physical changes occurring at each stage.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression from the start to the end of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'After that', 'Then', and 'Lastly' are used to guide the reader through the steps. However, the use of these devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Additionally, some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as the transition between the second and third paragraphs. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by varying the linking words to create a more natural flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the process clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'compressing blocks', 'crusher', and 'pellets'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'man power' (manpower), 'leaved to reach' (left to reach), and 'companies makes' (companies make). The range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Improving the variety of verbs and nouns related to industrial processes would enhance the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the initial steps requires', 'all the bottle were', 'companies makes') and article usage errors ('a plastic pallets'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are instances of inconsistent capitalization at the start of sentences. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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