Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 steps involve in plastic bottles recycling.

Overall, it can be seen that the entire process consists of nine stages. Its a linear, multi-stage process. Started with collecting used bottles from trash and ending with producing new bottles and other products.

First of all, used bottles are picked from recycle cans. Next, collected bottles are loaded on truck in order to deliver to recycling Centre, where they undergoes the sorting process. After that, bottles compressed into large blocks and send for crushing and washing in the large water container.

Subsequently, crushed material poured into a machine to produce plastic pellets. The next step is heating the pellets to form raw material. Following this, raw material packed in various boxes for its further use. Finally, the raw material transformed into bottles, boxes, clothing or any other useful plastic items. Later on it goes back to recycle bin after a certain time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the task well by outlining the entire nine-stage recycling process from the initial collection of bottles to the creation of new end products. An overview is provided at the beginning, noting that the process has nine stages. However, the statement that it is 'a linear, multi-stage process' is slightly inaccurate, as the visual clearly depicts a closed loop where end products lead back to the recycling bin. Key stages such as sorting, crushing, washing, pellet production, and raw material formation are accurately reported. The information is adequately selected and presented without major omissions, though the description remains somewhat basic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is arranged coherently, following the chronological order of the stages shown in the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Next', 'After that', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, some referencing and paragraphing could be improved. The body paragraphs are clustered together rather than broken down logically, and transitions sometimes feel a bit mechanical. Overall, there is a clear logical progression throughout the text that makes the sequence easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing process-related terms such as 'recycling centre', 'sorting', 'compressing', 'crushing', 'washing', and 'plastic pellets'. There are, however, several word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'steps involve' instead of 'steps involved', 'recycle cans' instead of 'recycling bins', and bottles being 'send' instead of 'sent'. Despite these errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main features of the diagram clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is inconsistent. There are multiple structural and punctuation errors throughout the text, including fragment sentences ('Its a linear, multi-stage process' and 'Started with collecting...'), missing articles ('delivered to recycling Centre', 'in large water container'), and passive voice errors ('bottles compressed into' omitting the auxiliary verb 'are'). While these errors do not severely impede communication, their frequency prevents the response from achieving a higher band score.

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

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