Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-11

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 procedure of recycling the plastic bottles. Its a way of redesigning the useless plastic bottles.

Overall there are 9 different stages of recycling the plastic bottles. These bottles go through the many phases to become a complete new product.

In the initial stage bottles are stored into a storage trolley. Its picked through truck and delivered to a Recycling centre, where these bottles are separated from the non reusable materiel. Recyclable bottles are compressed and crushed into small pieces. These pieces are deeply washed and converted into plastic pellets.

In the final stage, plastic pellets are heated to form a raw material and developed into large thick sheets of plastic. Different kind of things are made of this raw material such as cloths, tote bags, containers bottles and pencils.

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 score. While the report identifies the main stages of the recycling process, the description is somewhat superficial. The overview is present but lacks detail regarding the transition between stages. Because the response is under-length, the development of ideas is restricted, preventing a full exploration of the process. To improve, you should expand on the descriptions of each stage, such as explaining the purpose of the heating process or the specific nature of the 'raw material' mentioned, to ensure a more comprehensive summary of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the collection phase and the processing phase could be smoother. While there is an attempt at an overview, the connection between sentences within paragraphs is occasionally abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'as a result') to improve the flow and logical progression of the information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on basic terms like 'things' and 'made of', which are too informal for an academic report. There are also some minor inaccuracies, such as 'non reusable materiel' (should be 'material') and 'complete new product' (should be 'completely new'). To improve, focus on using more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'processed', 'manufactured', or 'transformed', and ensure your spelling is accurate throughout the text.

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 that detract from the quality of the writing. Examples include 'Its a way' (should be 'It is a way'), 'Its picked through truck' (should be 'It is picked up by truck'), and 'Different kind of things are made of' (should be 'Different kinds of things are made from'). These errors, while not completely impeding communication, occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and the proper use of apostrophes for contractions.

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

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