Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-27

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 process diagram shows the different steps to recycle plastic bottles.

Overall, the recycling phase is made of eight differente stages. It allows a bottle of plastic to be a brand-new item ready to be buy again. For that, a major infrastructure is required and plenty of machines will be used to put strain on the plastic.

To be able of making such a thing, citizens recycling facilitates the trucks for gathering a large quantity of plastic which is necessary. The bottles are then sorted and the valid one go through the compressing section where they end up in large blocks.

After that, saws will crush the matter into a bunch of small pieces and fall into a hydrated area to be washed. Afterward, a machine change the plastic into pellets and are heated to end with fresh new raw material. Finally, the matter will be sold all over the world to produce new items and finish in our markets.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student has successfully addressed the main purpose of the diagram, which illustrates the closed-loop process of recycling plastic bottles. The response provides an overview of the stages involved and tracks the sequence from collection and sorting through to processing and the creation of end products. However, there are minor inaccuracies in the counting of the stages, as the student states there are eight stages when the diagram actually depicts nine distinct steps. Furthermore, some descriptions are overly conversational or slightly vague, such as 'to be buy again' or 'put strain on the plastic'. Despite these minor flaws, all major parts of the process are covered, earning a solid Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is arranged logically, following the chronological order of the recycling process shown in the visual data. Paragraphing is utilized to separate the introduction, the general overview, and the subsequent phases of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Afterward', 'Finally', and 'To be able of making such a thing' are employed to guide the reader through the steps, though some transitions feel a bit unnatural or overly conversational. Referencing is generally clear, and the overall progression is maintained throughout the text, corresponding to the criteria for Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range to describe a process, utilizing words like 'infrastructure', 'quantity', 'sorted', and 'pellets'. However, there are noticeable lexical and word-form errors that detract from precision, such as 'differente' (spelling), 'to be buy again' (grammatical form), and 'hydrated area' instead of a washing bath. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success. Because these errors do not completely impede communication, the performance fits the Band 6.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The bottles are then sorted and the valid one go through the compressing section where they end up in large blocks.' However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the valid one go'), incorrect prepositions or infinitives ('To be able of making'), and tense inconsistencies. While the majority of sentences communicate their intended meaning despite the errors, the density of grammatical slips places this response firmly at Band 5.5.

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