Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-19

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)

plastic waste is mainly collected in the designated bins, installed throughout the school buildings, markets, roads and other urban or rural areas. the recyclable plastic bottles are then collected by the relevant companies through trucks and taken to the recycling centers. when the waste reach the center, it is sorted based on different criterion. Firstly, the sorted plastic bottled are compressed into compact blocks, using compression machines. then, these blocks are passed through crushers, where a large numbers of sharp blades are present. these blades help in shredding the plastic into small chunks. After going through the crushers, these shredded plastic pieces are washed and sanitized. Later, the clean pieces are passed through another step where they get converted into plastic pellets. these pellets are now ready to be heated to transform them into raw materials. lastly, the raw material gets packed properly, loaded and transferred to different industries, where its used to make different kinds of fabrics for clothing, Tupper-ware, bottles, stationary and other miscellaneous items. these items are completely recyclable and the cycle starts all over again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student successfully summarises the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, covering the sequence from collection and sorting through to processing into raw materials and the creation of end products. The overview and specific steps are largely accurate and grounded in the visual data provided. However, the response treats the entire text as a single, unformatted block of prose, which detracts from the overall presentation and makes the transition between stages slightly less distinct than expected for an Academic Task 1 response. Nevertheless, all key features of the diagram are reported adequately, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single, continuous paragraph without any paragraph breaks, which limits the logical structuring of the text. While chronological transitional devices such as 'Firstly', 'then', 'After going through', 'Later', and 'lastly' are used to guide the reader through the 9-stage process, the lack of paragraphing means the overall arrangement lacks sophisticated cohesion and structural clarity. Referencing is generally clear, but the absence of distinct formatting for the introduction, body, and conclusion keeps this criterion at a Band 5.5 level.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting less common lexical items related to industrial processes such as 'compression machines', 'crushers', 'shredding', 'sanitized', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are notable lexical and mechanical errors, such as the lowercase beginning of sentences, 'different criterion' (instead of criteria), and 'stationary' (instead of stationery). Despite these inaccuracies, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the core steps of the process clearly, aligning with the Band 6.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and passive constructions such as 'the sorted plastic bottled are compressed' and 'these shredded plastic pieces are washed'. However, there are persistent grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text. Most notably, sentences consistently begin with lowercase letters, and there are occasional agreement and spelling errors such as 'plastic bottled' and 'waste reach'. Complex structures are attempted with varying degrees of success, placing the grammar performance firmly within Band 5.5.

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