Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-07

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 provided diagram show the method of reusing of plastic bottles.

Overall, the process of recycling of bottles consist of nine stages, starts with the throwing used bottles into bin and ends with formation of final products like pens, shirts, and plastic bottles.

To begin, people throw their used bottles into bin the truck carries these bottles into recycling centre called sorting these plastic bottles are then keep in extract chamber and do not put with other materials like rubber after that these bottles are then compressed into blocks with the help of compressor and these blocks are then crushed into small pieces by grinder machine and then washed these particles.

Furthermore, after washing these small particles are then entered into a machine which produced pellets, moreover these pelletes are then heated and after heating the raw materials are formed from these heated pellets the raw materials are then stored for sometime and then they made the final products from these raw materials an the end products are then produced in shape of pens, shirts, shopping bags and also plastic bottles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and give a clear overall summary: the process begins with bottles being placed in a bin and ends with new products, including bottles and clothing. Most of the sequence is reported accurately, from collection and sorting through compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. However, some details are unclear or not supported by the diagram. For example, the sorting stage is described as keeping bottles in an “extract chamber” and separating them from rubber, whereas the image shows acceptable and rejected items sorted into boxes. You also say the raw material is stored “for sometime,” which is not shown. To strengthen the report, describe the sorting decision accurately and include the return arrow that completes the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable progression through the process, and the paragraph beginning “To begin” followed by “Furthermore” helps distinguish the early and later stages. The overview also gives the reader a useful sense of the process as a whole. However, the first process paragraph runs several stages together in one long sentence, making the relationships between actions difficult to follow. Connectors such as “then” and “after that” are repeated, while “moreover” does not clearly signal a new or contrasting point. Use shorter sentences and group the stages more deliberately—for example, collection and sorting in one section, then processing and manufacture in another. Clearer punctuation and references to each material as it changes form would make the sequence easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “washed,” “pellets” and “raw materials,” so the reader can generally understand the stages. There is also some variety in how you refer to the products, such as “shopping bags” and “plastic bottles.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward, including “reusing of plastic bottles,” “extract chamber,” “pelletes” and “produced in shape of.” These reduce precision, particularly when describing the sorting stage and the final products. Aim for standard process collocations and check spelling: for example, say bottles are “sorted,” pellets are “produced,” and products are “made into” different items. More precise vocabulary would help you report the diagram without adding unsupported details.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and extended sentence forms, and the sequence is usually understandable. However, errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence boundaries occur across the response. For instance, “the diagram show” should be “the diagram shows,” and “the process … consist of nine stages, starts” needs a consistent verb structure, such as “consists of nine stages and starts.” In “these bottles are then keep,” the passive form should be “are kept.” Several actions are joined without full stops, as in the long sentence beginning “To begin,” which makes grammatical relationships harder to follow. Practise accurate passive constructions for processes and divide long sequences into complete sentences; this will improve control while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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