Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

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 sequential process by which plastic is recycled, outlining the key stages from the initial input to the final outcome which is production of new products.

Overall, the process consists nine distinct stages, where by used plastic undergoes many transformations before being converted into raw materials. Which is used for the manufacturing of the new product.

In terms of the plastic bottle recycling, intially, used plastic bottles is collected and transported at the recycling centre. Where they are sorted according to their need. Subsequently, those seprated waste is compressed into blocks in preparation for the next stage of the process.

As it evident from the diagram, once this steps are completed,compressed blocks ae crushed into small pieces. Furthermore, it undergoes washing. Then after, these fragments is transformed into pellets. The resulting plastic pellets is heated to produce raw material. Ultimately, this material is used to produce various products whch includes bottles, clothes and plastic containers along with distinct stationary items.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, from the initial collection to the creation of new end products. The overview statement effectively highlights that there are nine distinct steps in a cyclic process. However, there are minor omissions and some details are generalized rather than fully explained, such as the sorting criterion and specific transformation temperatures. Nevertheless, the progression of the cycle is accurately reported, fulfilling the core requirements of Task 1. The response meets the 150-word minimum, and the visual data is interpreted correctly overall.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is generally coherent and follows a logical progression that mirrors the clockwise flow of the diagram. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. However, there are issues with sentence boundary punctuation and cohesion. For instance, the sentence starting with 'Which is used for...' is a sentence fragment, and cohesive devices like 'intially', 'seprated', and 'Then after' show awkward transitions or mechanical usage. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'once this steps are completed', where pronoun agreement fails.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with appropriate topic-specific terms such as 'sequential process', 'transformations', 'compressed into blocks', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors, including 'intially', 'seprated', 'ae', and 'whch'. The student attempts less common vocabulary, but these minor errors and some repetition limit the lexical score to a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several serious grammar and punctuation errors, including sentence fragments ('Which is used for the manufacturing of the new product'), subject-verb agreement issues ('used plastic bottles is collected', 'fragments is transformed', 'resulting plastic pellets is heated'), and pluralisation errors ('once this steps', 'compressed blocks ae'). These errors occasionally cause strain for the reader, though communication is generally maintained.

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

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