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 given diagram illustrate the recycling procedure of bottles made of plastic.

The first step in the recycling process of plastic bottles is the throwing of bottles by local peole into dustbins.After that a dumper come and pick these bottles from bins and transfer them to the recycling centres.In these centres the bottles are sorted in two categories,one are those which can recyc le and others are those which can't recycle.After sorting the bottles which can recycle are compressed into blocks.

After compressing,these blocks aere crushed by machine and after crushing it is washed.Then the washed plastic is transfered to a machine which coverts it into the plastic pellets.These plastic pellets are heated to form raw material.This raw material is used produce different items like bottles,pens,bags,clothes,etc.These are then transferred to market for the use of local people.Peole use these products and after use throw them and again same process continoius.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You cover the main sequence from disposal and collection through sorting, processing, and making new products, and you correctly note that the cycle repeats. However, the response is only partly developed as a process summary: it gives no clear overview of the cycle’s main stages, and some details are inaccurate or added without support. For example, the diagram shows a collection truck, not specifically a “dumper,” and it does not show products being transferred to a market or used by local people. The sorting stage is described broadly, but the diagram’s checkmark and X indicate accepted and rejected bottles. To strengthen the response, include a concise overview and report only the stages and outcomes shown.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are generally presented in a sensible order, and sequencing phrases such as “The first step,” “After that,” and “After compressing” help the reader follow the process. The final sentence also signals that the cycle returns to its beginning. However, most information is placed in two long paragraphs, and several transitions are repetitive or awkward, particularly the repeated use of “after” in the processing section. The relationship between the products and the start of the cycle is also expressed unclearly in “These are then transferred to market…”. Use clearer paragraphing—for example, separate collection and sorting from processing and reuse—and vary linking expressions while making the cycle’s return explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorted,” “compressed,” “crushed,” “washed,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” which allows the reader to understand the main stages. However, the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or unnatural: “dustbins” is less suitable than “recycling bins” here, “a dumper” does not accurately name the vehicle shown, and “coverts it into” is an incorrect form. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “peole,” “transfered,” and “continoius,” which reduce the accuracy and polish of the description. Aim for precise terms such as “collection truck,” “recyclable,” and “manufactures,” and proofread spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response uses some longer structures to connect stages, such as “After sorting the bottles which can recycle are compressed into blocks,” and the sequence is usually understandable. However, the range is limited, with many sentences following the same simple pattern, and frequent errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence boundaries affect accuracy. Examples include “The given diagram illustrate,” “a dumper come,” and “These plastic pellets are heated” after the preceding singular reference to “a machine” is not the issue; rather, “This raw material is used produce” lacks “to.” Several sentences also run together without spaces after full stops or commas. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and complete verb patterns, and use a mix of controlled simple and complex sentences.

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