Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-06

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 gives information about how the plastic bottles are recycled.

The recycling of plastic bottles are done in total eight steps.

Diagram illustrates that the bottles are collected into a recycling box by a worker. Then all the bottles are collected into a truck from different recycling boxes. These bottles then delivered to a recycling centre for further process. In recycling centre a person can separates the usefull bottles. In next step the bottles are compressed and give them a shape of blocks. These compressed bottles are crushed with a machine looks like a wheels and the the crushed plastic sink into water for their washing. In the sixth step a machine is used to make pellets of these crushed plastic. The pellets are heated to change into raw form. After heating it the material comes into their raw form which is ready for manufacturing anything from it. At the last different items like bags, pencils, tiffen boxes, bottles and shirts are produced from this raw form of plastic.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main features of the plastic bottle recycling process, covering the stages from collection to the final production of end products. However, the explanation lacks a clear overall summary or synthesis of the entire cyclical process. Some steps are described in a basic manner with limited extension, and there are occasional inaccuracies in reporting specific details from the diagram, such as stating the process consists of eight steps when the visual clearly outlines a nine-stage loop. To reach a higher level, the response should provide a more thorough overview highlighting the main trends or stages, and ensure all parts of the visual data are accurately and fully represented without missing intermediate steps.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates some organisation with a logical chronological sequence moving through the stages of the diagram. However, the overall progression is somewhat disjointed due to poor paragraphing, as the body of the response is crammed into a single block of text following the introduction. Cohesive devices are used, but they tend to be mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on basic linkers like 'Then', 'In next step', and 'At the last'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, which disrupts the smooth flow of information. To improve, the writer should group related stages into distinct paragraphs and employ a wider, more natural variety of cohesive links to guide the reader clearly through the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully communicating the basic actions shown in the diagram, such as 'collected', 'sorted', 'compressed', and 'crushed'. However, the range is limited and repetitive, and there are noticeable lexical errors and inappropriate word choices, such as 'usefull' (spelling error), 'tiffen boxes' (informal/misspelt), and describing the crushing machine as looking 'like a wheels'. Furthermore, word formation errors such as using 'raw form' repeatedly rather than standard phrasing restrict the score. To achieve a higher band, the writer must incorporate a wider variety of less common vocabulary with greater precision in spelling, word formation, and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on a limited range of simple and basic complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('The recycling of plastic bottles are done'), articles ('in total eight steps', 'into a truck', 'for further process'), and prepositions ('into a recycling box' instead of 'in a recycling box'). Attempts at complex structures or passive voice constructions often result in faulty patterns, such as 'give them a shape of blocks' or 'bottles then delivered'. Punctuation and minor structural slips also occur frequently, causing occasional difficulty for the reader. Greater control over basic grammar and a wider variety of accurate sentence forms are needed to improve.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.