Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-30
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 chart below illustrates the main features of how plastic bottles are recycled.
Overall, there is the seven stage process of how plastic bottles are recycled starting from collecting and ending at producing end products.
Firstly, the garbage is collected from dustbins, and then, it is moved to the buses which collects the garbage from dustbins collectively. furthermore, it goes to recycling centre where the garbage is sorted into categories and compressed into blocks, after that it goes for crushing and washing afterwards.
Secondly, it moves further at producing plastic pellets and then it goes at heating pellets to form raw material this stage plays a pivotal role in producing raw material, moreover when raw material comes out, it goes in making of producing end products. For exmaple: clothes, bottles, bags, etc.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response attempts to describe the process of recycling plastic bottles, identifying several key stages such as sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, and producing end products. However, the summary contains inaccuracies in describing the visual data, such as referring to recycling trucks as 'buses' and stating there are seven stages when the diagram clearly depicts a nine-stage cyclical process. Furthermore, the length requirement has not been met, as the response falls short of the minimum 150-word count. To reach a higher band, you need to ensure all major stages of the diagram are accurately reported without misinterpreting visual details, and write at least the minimum required word count.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay has some basic organisation, opening with a brief introduction and attempting to sequence the steps using transition words like 'Firstly', 'furthermore', and 'Secondly'. However, the progression lacks clarity due to run-on sentences and mechanical use of cohesive devices, such as linking multiple clauses with commas instead of full stops. Paragraphing is also poorly managed, resulting in a somewhat disjointed structure. To improve cohesion, you should break down long, run-on sentences into manageable thoughts and use cohesive devices more naturally to guide the reader smoothly through each stage of the process.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, featuring basic process-related terms such as 'collected', 'sorted', 'compressed', and 'raw material'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and inappropriate word choices, such as calling collection trucks 'buses' and using 'for exmaple' with a spelling error. Additionally, the range of vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate a wider variety of precise, task-specific vocabulary and collocation, while eliminating basic spelling mistakes and awkward phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and overly long, comma-spliced complex sentences (e.g., 'furthermore, it goes to recycling centre where the garbage is sorted into categories and compressed into blocks, after that it goes for crushing and washing afterwards'). Frequent errors in punctuation, run-on clauses, and sentence boundaries are present throughout the text, which occasionally causes difficulty for the reader. To improve your grammar score, you need to use a wider mix of controlled simple and complex structures, ensure proper punctuation, and avoid stringing multiple clauses together with commas.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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