Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-12

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 process of recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, There are nine steps of recycling process. Started with collection of useable plastic products, after then sorting at recycling center and entered into some mechanical process and the final step is producing a new products.

To begin with, Collecting all plastic products and transported to the recycling center by vehicles such as truck, where sorting porcess occured and plastic bottles were separated. The forth stage is making blocks by help of compression in the compression chamber. Follwed by, blocks entered into a crushing machine, small plastic particals produce and washing it by some chemical and water. The main process step is producing plastic pellets by machine. After that, producing raw materials from pellets by undergoing heating process. Raw materials stored in suitable containers. The final step is producing different end products such bottles, plastic bags, pencils or pens, lunch boxes or so on.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student covers all parts of the task well by outlining the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, from the initial collection to the final manufactured products. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, stating that there are nine steps, which helps fulfill the requirement to summarise main features. However, some stages are described in a somewhat telegraphic and slightly disjointed manner rather than being fully integrated into a smooth process description. For instance, phrases like 'the forth stage is making blocks by help of compression' touch upon the necessary information, but the overall development remains somewhat limited and mechanical. Despite these minor limitations, the key features of the diagram are successfully identified and reported, aligning well with the descriptors for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement, attempting to guide the reader through the process with transitional markers such as 'To begin with', 'Follwed by', and 'After that'. However, paragraphing is somewhat weak, with the overview and the second step crammed together awkwardly in a short second paragraph. Additionally, referencing and logical transitions are occasionally faulty or mechanical, as seen in fragments like 'Started with collection of useable plastic products, after then sorting at recycling center and entered into some mechanical process'. Cohesive devices are sometimes inaccurate or awkwardly placed, which hinders the natural flow of information. This level of organisation and cohesion sits comfortably within the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range, displaying a mix of clear structure and mechanical execution.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'recycling center', 'compression chamber', 'crushing machine', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors ('useable', 'porcess', 'occured', 'forth', 'Follwed', 'particals') and awkward word choices or collocations ('by help of compression', 'washing it by some chemical'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they restrict the lexical score. The vocabulary used is sufficient to convey the basic steps of the process, but frequent inaccuracies in spelling and word form prevent the response from achieving a higher band, making Band 5.0 the most appropriate reflection of the student's current performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is weak throughout. Many sentences lack main verbs or subjects, resulting in fragment-like structures such as 'Started with collection of useable plastic products, after then sorting at recycling center and entered into some mechanical process' and 'Collecting all plastic products and transported to the recycling center by vehicles'. There are frequent errors in voice, preposition use, and sentence construction. Although some basic clauses are accurate, the high frequency of grammatical slips and awkward phrasings causes difficulty for the reader and prevents the structures from being consistently controlled. This aligns closely with the criteria for Band 5.0.

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

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