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 diagram illustrates the different ways of recycling the plastic bottles, from the initial process of used bottles to production of new products.

Overall, there are several stages in recycling process begining with the disposal and collection of bottles in recycling center and ending with the production of new products. The process involves, sorting, compressing into the blocks, crushing into peices,making plastic pallets and bottles are formed into reuse form.

First used plastic bottle are placedin recycling bin. They are collecting from the bin to a recycling center where the manufacturing occur. At the center bottles are sorting according to their types and materials.

After sorting the material, converted into blocks for compression and crushed into the small pieces. These pieces are subsequently washed to remove any dirt or other impurities.Then converted into clean pallets

In the next stage, pallets are heated and melted into raw material.This material can be used to manufacturea variety of new products, such as plastic bags, bottles, clothing bags and other items too

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages from putting bottles in a bin through collection, sorting, processing and making new products, and your overview identifies the process’s beginning and end. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows bottles sorted into accepted and rejected groups, but you do not explain this distinction, and “bottles are formed into reuse form” does not accurately describe the later stages. The diagram also shows the process returning from end products to the recycling bin, a key feature of its closed loop that is omitted. Your examples of end products are partly inaccurate: it shows food containers, a T-shirt, pencils and a carrier bag, rather than “plastic bags” and “clothing bags.” More precise coverage of these features would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by stages in sequence, with paragraph breaks that help separate the information. Connectors such as “After sorting” and “In the next stage” support the chronological progression. However, some links between steps are unclear or mechanically expressed. For example, “After sorting the material, converted into blocks” leaves the subject of the action unstated, while “Then converted into clean pallets” does not clearly connect the washing stage to pellet production. The final paragraph also stops at the products without linking back to the recycling bin, so the cycle’s progression is incomplete. Use explicit subjects and clearer transitions to show how each stage leads to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “crushed,” “washed,” “heated” and “raw material,” which allows the reader to follow the general sequence. There are also attempts at more specific terms, such as “impurities” and “manufacture.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate and reduce precision: “pallets” is used where the diagram shows plastic pellets, “peices” is misspelled, and “clothing bags” does not name the T-shirt shown. Phrases such as “reuse form” and “other items too” are vague or unnatural for a process description. Aim for accurate technical nouns and concise collocations, such as “plastic pellets” and “a range of end products.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including the overview sentence beginning “Overall” and the passive construction “These pieces are subsequently washed.” The sequence is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Articles and plurals are inconsistent in “First used plastic bottle are placed,” and the passive form is faulty in “bottles are sorting.” Several clauses omit a subject or verb, as in “After sorting the material, converted into blocks” and “Then converted into clean pallets.” There are also agreement and sentence-boundary problems, for example “pallets are heated and melted into raw material.This material.” Practise complete passive sentences with a clear subject at each stage, and check articles, agreement and punctuation.

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