Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-03
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 process for recycling plastcc bottles through nine different stages.
Overall, the procedure of recycling bottle begins with dumping the bottles in recycle bin and ends with producing different products from plastic bottles.
Initially, people bin platic bottles after that the garbage truck shifts the plastic bottles to the recycling centre for sorting the products. Furthermore, the bottles are compressing into blocks, then the blocks pass through the crushing machine and convert blocks into tiny pieces. In addition, the pieces are goes to water tank for washing.
On the other hand, the washing pieces goes through a machine for producing plastic pellets. After that the pelletes are heated to create a raw material from the plastic pellets, the raw material is distributed to different factories to make different kinds of products from the raw material. Mostly industries recyles the platics bottles into plastic tifin boxes
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the task only partially and falls just short of the minimum length requirement at 148 words. While the main stages of the recycling process are identified from the diagram, the information is presented in a mechanical, list-like fashion with limited overview development. Some key features, such as the cyclic nature of the process and the transition from raw material to end products, are mentioned rather than fully integrated or clearly highlighted. To reach a higher band, the response must meet the word count requirement and present a more fully developed, coherent overview of the key trends and stages.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
There is a coherent overall arrangement, and the stages of the diagram are presented in a logical sequence following the flow of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Furthermore', and 'On the other hand' are used, but their application is sometimes mechanical or imprecise, as seen in the slightly awkward use of 'On the other hand' to transition between physical steps of the same process. Paragraphing is attempted, but referencing and transitions between sentences can be repetitive. To improve, the writer should use a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure smoother transitions between the different stages of the diagram.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited but minimally adequate to describe the steps in the diagram. There are noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as 'plastcc' instead of 'plastic', 'platic' instead of 'plastic', 'pelletes' instead of 'pellets', 'recyles' instead of 'recycles', and 'tifin' instead of 'tiffin'. Phrasing such as 'the washing pieces goes' also shows inaccuracies in word form and collocation that occasionally strain the reader. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to expand their lexical range, reduce spelling errors, and use more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple and basic complex sentences. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, such as 'the procedure of recycling bottle begins', 'the bottles are compressing', and 'the pieces is goes to water tank'. These frequent errors can cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, the writer should focus on mastering basic sentence structures, ensuring accurate tense usage, and eliminating frequent errors in verb phrases and agreements.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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