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 given infographic representation, which is in the form diagram, illustrate, the diagram shows the complete process of recycling plastic bottles, broken down into eight main stages.
The process starts with the collection of plastic bottles and ends with the creation of new reusable materials and products, demonstrating the systematic nature of recycling.
To begin, people drop of their used plastic bottles into a special recycling bins. A truck then picks up these bins and takes the bottles to recycling center. Once at the center, workers carefully sort the materials, separating plastic bottles from other west to ensure that only the correct items move forward in the process.
After sorting, the plastic bottles crushed into smaller pieces to make them easier to handle. These pieces are then washed thoroughly to remove any dirt, labels, or other impurities. The cleaned plastic is turned into small pellets. These pellets are then heated and shaped into blocks of raw material, which are pressed into cubes to make them easier to transport. Finally, the recycled material are used to produce new products, such as plastic bottles and clothing.
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 successfully covers all main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, from the initial collection by drop-off bins to the final production of new goods. The overview provided in the second paragraph captures the overarching nature of the process well. Key features such as sorting, crushing, washing, pelletising, and shaping are correctly reported and compared sequentially. While some minor details from the diagram could be expanded slightly to achieve a fully developed response matching higher bands, the writer provides a clear and accurate summary of the provided visual data, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 6 level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The text demonstrates a logical overall organisation, moving chronologically through the eight stages of the recycling process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader, such as "To begin", "After sorting", and "Finally". However, there are some mechanical or slightly awkward transitions, and referencing occasionally falters, as seen in the slightly disjointed opening sentences where the writer struggles with phrasing like "The given infographic representation, which is in the form diagram, illustrate". Progression is generally clear, placing this section comfortably in Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as "recycling center", "plastic pellets", "raw material", and "impurities". However, there are notable lexical errors and spelling mistakes, such as "drop of" instead of "drop off" and "west" instead of "waste". The writer attempts less common vocabulary, but word choices occasionally lack precision or contain collocation errors (e.g., "infographic representation, which is in the form diagram"). These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from reaching a higher band, placing the lexical control firmly at Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ("which are pressed into cubes") and introductory prepositional phrases ("Once at the center"). There are, however, several noticeable grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text. For instance, the opening sentence suffers from run-on structure and subject-verb agreement issues ("illustrate" instead of "illustrates"), and a later sentence lacks a verb ("the recycled material are used", omitting a past participle or mismanaging the passive voice). While these errors rarely impede overall comprehension, the frequency of slips restricts the grammar score to a Band 6.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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