Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-25

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 illustrates the re-cycling procedure of plastic bottles.

Overall, in recycling the plastic passes through various process from being thrown into the garbage to the recycling centre. Then being converted into raw material to the production of new products.

At first when we throw plastic into the trashcan the cycle gets started. After that it is taken by a truck to the re-cycling centre where good quality plastic is compressed into blocks, while the waste is kept at side for other puposes. After compressing into blocks it is put into a crussing machine where it is crushed into small peices and then washed to remove dirt and other particles.

After washing it is putted into a machine for pellet production and then the pellets are heated to form raw material. At last different kinds of re-useable products like plastic bags bottles and pencils are made and the process continues again and again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response successfully covers all the main stages of the recycling process, from the initial disposal of plastic bottles by consumers to the final production of new end products. The overview provides a general summary of the loop. However, the explanation of certain steps is slightly simplified and informal, such as mentioning 'good quality plastic is compressed into blocks, while the waste is kept at side'. While the key features of sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pelletising, and reforming are identified, the development of some steps could be more precise to reach a higher band. Overall, it addresses the task adequately and outlines the cyclical nature of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The report has a coherent overall arrangement and follows the sequential order of the diagram logically. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps, although the paragraphing structure is slightly fragmented. Cohesive devices such as 'At first', 'After that', and 'At last' are used to guide the reader through the stages, but they are somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Referencing is generally clear, though transitional phrases between sentences could be varied more naturally to achieve a smoother flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms such as 'compressed into blocks', 'crushing machine', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors ('re-cycling', 'puposes', 'crussing', 'peices', 'putted') and informal phrasing ('we throw plastic into the trashcan'). While attempts are made to use less common items, inaccuracies in spelling and word choice prevent the lexical score from reaching Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional or dependent clauses ('when we throw plastic into the trashcan the cycle gets started'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward expressions, including 'is putted into' and 'keeps at side'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with missing commas after introductory clauses. Despite these errors, meaning is generally clear and does not impede communication.

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

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