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 Shows the process how plastic bottles being recycled.

Overall the recycling process completed in nine different step from collecting waste bottles to sorting them in different categories and after that they go to processing plant.Then they go through different steps and recycled in different types of product which can be used again.

firstly used bottles go to bin In second step from there they are collected as waste and goes to processing plant In third step.Then there these are sorted in different categories and by the compression of these, the blocks are made.Then these large blocks are crushed by a big machine in small pieces. These small pieces go to washing unit there these small pieces are washed carefully.

Then other heavy machine is used to make plastic pallets then these pallets are heated to produce raw material to make final product .In eighth step this raw material is used to make versatile products. Final the products are made in nineth step.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the nine-stage recycling process from collecting waste bottles to producing end products. An overall summary is provided, capturing the main features of the loop. However, some stages are under-developed or described with limited detail. For instance, the transition from washing to the production of plastic pellets and subsequent heating is rushed, and the final stages lack clarity. While the essential information is present, extending the descriptions of intermediate technical steps such as compression, crushing, and pellet heating would create a more fully developed account of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear sequence that follows the chronological order of the diagram. Progression is maintained through transitional markers such as 'Overall', 'firstly', and 'Then', though these cohesive devices are at times repetitive and mechanical, with 'Then' overused to link consecutive sentences. Referencing is generally functional, but paragraphing is underdeveloped; the body of the response is split into brief, somewhat disjointed paragraphs rather than a structured grouping of logical stages. To improve, a more varied repertoire of cohesive expressions should be employed alongside more purposeful paragraphing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying basic actions like 'sorting', 'crushing', and 'washing'. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary items such as 'versatile products' and 'processing plant', but these are accompanied by word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'pallets' instead of 'pellets', and 'nineth' instead of 'ninth'. Other lexical choices are repetitive, relying heavily on basic nouns and verbs like 'products' and 'make'. While these slips and limitations do not severely impede communication, they restrict the response from achieving a higher lexical band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writing displays a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple clauses and repetitive additive patterns. Attempts at complex sentences are sparse, and grammatical control is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in punctuation, particularly missing capitalisation at the beginning of sentences and run-on phrasing without proper stops (e.g., 'plant In third step.Then there...'). Other issues include missing articles and prepositions ('completed in nine different step', 'goes to processing plant'), as well as awkward passive and active voice shifts ('process how plastic bottles being recycled'). These frequent errors require the reader to occasionally pause.

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