Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-09

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 process chat illustrate how the plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall,the process is in nine steps it begin with collecting bottle from home by a truck,and ends with makeing product like Tshits,bags and plastic containers with the help of recycled bottles.

Firstly, plastic bottles are collected from homes by truck which is through by the people in the dustbin, after that truck reached to the recycle centre in the mill bottles are sorted by hands and compressed into large blocks of tightly pack bottles.Before washing, blocks of plastic bottles are crushed into small fragments.

Moving towords remaining steps, for producing plastic pellets by putting tiny pieces into a machine. Although, pellets converted from raw material, it need to heat to do that. Finally, products are made from raw material like pen,bag,t shirts, plastic bottles and plastic containers and ready for sale in the market. Ones these items are utilized abd discarded by consumers, the entire recycling process restarts from the initial collection phase

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and give a clear overall account of the cycle, from bottles being placed in a bin through collection and processing to the manufacture of new goods. The overview identifies the nine-step process and its return to collection, while details such as sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating are relevant. The examples of end products also match the diagram. However, some stages are less fully or clearly reported: the sorting stage’s separation of acceptable and rejected bottles is not explained, and the transition from heated pellets to raw material is confusing in “pellets converted from raw material.” Clarify that heating turns the pellets into raw material, then state that this material is used to make new products.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by the early processing stages and then the remaining stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “after that,” “Before washing,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the cycle. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. “Moving towards remaining steps” is an awkward transition, and “Although” does not express a suitable relationship between the pellet-making and heating stages. The final sentence about discarded products usefully completes the loop, but its connection to the preceding sentence could be smoother. Use clear stage-based paragraphs and straightforward links such as “Next” and “The pellets are then heated” to make progression more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough process-related vocabulary to communicate the main stages, including “sorted,” “compressed,” “crushed,” “fragments,” “pellets,” and “raw material.” These terms show some awareness of the topic, and the examples of products make the description specific. However, noticeable spelling and word-choice problems reduce precision: “process chat” appears to mean “process chart,” “makeing” is misspelled, and “dustbin” is less suitable than “recycling bin” in this context. Phrases such as “tightly pack bottles” and “products are made from raw material” are also imprecise. Aim for accurate process collocations, for example “tightly packed blocks” and “manufactured from recycled raw material,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the sequence is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors, however, affect clarity and control. The opening has subject–verb disagreement in “The process … illustrate,” while “Overall,the process is in nine steps it begin” combines clauses without correct punctuation and uses an incorrect verb form. Other examples include “truck reached” and “it need to heat,” where tense or agreement is faulty. The sentence beginning “for producing plastic pellets” is also a fragment, and “Although” introduces an incomplete or illogical clause. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent present simple tense for process descriptions. Check articles, agreement, and punctuation when joining stages.

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