Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-18

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)

This diagram illustrates the complete process for recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, this diagram have nine steps beigining with the throwing bottles into the rcycle bin and ends with producing products. Thiss is a mammade process cyclic process.

Firstly, in the first step we throw bottles into the bin which is specificlly made for recycling process. Then the bottles and other sort of bags carried through the truck. This truck brouhgt all this stuff to the recycling centre for sorting. At that place the all the stuff converted into the blocks by compressing. After this each of the block crushed into pieces being washing.

In the sixth step those crushed pieces transfer for producing plastic pellets . And then these pellets converted into the raw material by heating. Then this raw material is used for making new products. This is the most important part. In the last step the products are made by raw material.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully covers all the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, from the initial disposal of bottles into a recycling bin through to the production of end products. The overview statement correctly identifies that the diagram has nine steps and forms a man-made cyclic process. However, some descriptions of the individual stages are slightly imprecise, such as stating 'the all the stuff converted into the blocks by compressing' rather than specifically referring to plastic bottles. Despite minor descriptive limitations, the essential information and sequence of the diagram are appropriately summarized, satisfying the core requirements of Academic Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement by following the chronological progression of the recycling process. Transition markers such as 'Firstly', 'Then', 'After this', and 'In the last step' are used to guide the reader through the stages. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped, as the response is split into only two dense blocks, and the second paragraph lacks optimal division. Furthermore, some referencing and cohesive links are faulty or overly mechanical, such as 'At that place the all the stuff converted into the blocks', which affects the smoothness of the progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a process, including terms like 'recycling centre', 'compressing', 'crushing', 'plastic pellets', and 'raw material'. However, there are notable spelling and word-choice errors throughout the text, such as 'beigining' (beginning), 'rcycle' (recycle), 'mammade' (man-made), 'specificlly' (specifically), and 'brouhgt' (brought). These lexical slips and awkward collocations like 'the all the stuff converted' limit the score, preventing the response from reaching higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writing contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is weak. There are several noticeable errors involving missing verbs, incorrect prepositions, and faulty tense usage, such as 'this diagram have nine steps beigining with the throwing bottles', 'each of the block crushed into pieces being washing', and 'the products are made by raw material'. Additionally, punctuation and article usage are inconsistent. These errors occur frequently and occasionally impede smooth reading, placing the response firmly in the Band 5 range.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.