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 diagram gives the information to processing plastic bottles for recycling .

overall, There are mainly 9 steps to process plastic bottles to recycled . Began with throwing plastic bottles into garbage, To rebuilt raw material making severals product , Such as : shirts, bags,or other plastic material . In recycling centre sorting of bottles and crushing or plastic pellets into raw material took long process in the diagram .

From the began, Plastic bottles recycling process to throw in a garbage , recycling trucks team collect garbage to recycle and take them to recycling center where the good and bad quality bottles sorting . Afterwards the passing through the compressing machine which convert plastic waste into huge blocks , crushing and washing the huge plastic blocks into plastic pellets .

Before final process, Recycling waste plastic into fertilization machine where plastic pellets convert into raw material . Raw material are store into bags and from raw material producing end products such as : pencils , shirts , plastic bags and plastic bottles and other material are made from plastic waste

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and provide an overview that identifies a nine-step process, beginning with disposal and ending in products made from recycled material. The examples of end products, including shirts, bags and pencils, are relevant, and you mention sorting, compressing, crushing, washing and pellet production. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the bottles go into a recycling bin, not simply “garbage,” and the pellets are heated to form raw material rather than processed in a “fertilization machine.” The overview also says sorting and later processing “took long process,” which is not a feature shown by the diagram. To develop the account further, describe the loop back from end products to the recycling bin and explain the sorting decision more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing the sequence. The stages are generally presented in the correct order, and transitions such as “Afterwards” and “Before final process” help signal progression. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, and the reader has to infer how ideas connect. For example, “From the began” does not clearly introduce the first stage, while “Before final process” is followed by several stages rather than just the final one. The overview’s reference to a “long process” also interrupts the otherwise chronological account. Use clearer sequencing expressions such as “Next,” “After washing,” and “Finally,” and make each paragraph’s role more distinct.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “crushing,” “washing,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which allows the reader to follow much of the diagram. You also identify several end products. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “processing plastic bottles for recycling,” “recycling trucks team,” and “fertilization machine.” “Garbage” is less precise than “recycling bin” for the first stage, and “huge blocks” is less suitable than “compressed blocks.” There are also word-form and spelling problems, including “severals” and “store” where “stored” is needed. Aim for precise process terms and check that each noun and verb fits its context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the sequence can usually be understood. However, errors in sentence construction and grammatical control are noticeable. The opening, “The diagram gives the information to processing,” has an incorrect verb pattern, while “overall, There are mainly 9 steps” has faulty capitalisation and sentence punctuation. Agreement and verb forms also need attention in “Raw material are store into bags,” and the phrase “where the good and bad quality bottles sorting” lacks a correctly formed verb. Several sentences are joined or punctuated in ways that make their structure difficult to follow. Practise complete clauses with clear subjects and verbs, and check articles, agreement, tense and punctuation when editing.

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