Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-05

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 diagrame providing information about that , how plastic bottles are recylcled .

By having currsory glance it is vivid that , Firstly used bottles are put into special recyclebin . after that a truck collected them for further process .and collected bottles send to recycle centre for sorting and sorting of bottles compressing into the blocks. while , compressing bottles crusing with the help of special tool.

Moving further ahead , crushing bottles are washed for further process . after washing bottles dried .after dried bottles to producing plastic pellets with the help of machine and heat .while , heating pellets to made from raw material . The raw material is used for making further process . After completing whole process raw material is used for pensils , carry bag , clothes , bottles and other plastic material.

overall , the whole process consist total nine steps . all steps are vital . if every step is missing the whole process is entire.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response attempts to cover all parts of the task by outlining the stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, from discarding the bottle to producing final end products. However, the development of ideas is limited and at times unclear. While key steps like sorting, crushing, and washing are mentioned, the explanation of the progression is superficial. Furthermore, there are minor inaccuracies in the interpretation of the diagram, such as stating that bottles are dried immediately after washing before mentioning the production of plastic pellets. The overview provided at the end is overly simplistic, stating that all steps are vital rather than synthesising the main stages or overall nature of the closed-loop process. To achieve a higher band, the response would need to present a clearer, more fully developed overview and provide a more precise and extended account of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement by following a sequential approach through the nine stages of the diagram. Paragraphing is attempted, with an introduction, body paragraphs tracking the process, and a concluding overview. However, cohesion is often mechanical and faulty. Transitional phrases like 'By having currsory glance', 'Moving further ahead', and 'overall' are misused or awkwardly phrased, detracting from the natural flow of ideas. Referencing and pronoun use are also weak, leading to choppy sentences where relationships between clauses are obscured. For instance, phrases like 'after dried bottles to producing' lack logical linking. To progress, the writer needs to employ a wider range of cohesive devices more accurately and ensure smoother transitions between the individual steps of the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary related to the process, such as 'recycling centre', 'sorting', 'compressing', 'crushing', and 'pellets', but these are frequently marred by word-form and spelling errors. Examples of lexical inaccuracies include 'diagrame', 'currsory', 'recyclebin', 'crusing', 'dried', and 'pensils'. Additionally, collocation and word choice are weak, as seen in phrases like 'producing plastic pellets with the help of machine and heat' and 'heating pellets to made from raw material'. These noticeable errors and frequent misspellings impede communication in places. To reach a higher band, the writer must expand their vocabulary range, use word forms accurately, and improve spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The grammatical range is severely limited, consisting mostly of simple and attempted complex sentence structures that are frequently faulty. There is a lack of control over basic verb forms, tenses, and sentence boundaries. For example, the opening sentence 'The diagrame providing information about that , how plastic bottles are recylcled .' contains a fragment and incorrect verb forms. Other errors include missing articles ('sent to recycle centre'), incorrect prepositions ('made from raw material'), and awkward passive constructions ('collected bottles send'). Punctuation is also problematic, with misplaced commas separating subjects and verbs. Frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader. To improve, the writer needs to demonstrate better control over simple sentence construction, ensure appropriate verb tenses are used consistently for process descriptions, and reduce basic grammatical slips.

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

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