Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-12

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 illustrare the method for reprocessing plastic bottles.

Overall, there are total nine process illustrate in the diagram for recycling plastic and the process seems too interesting.

Beginning at the recycling stage, the recycleer collects the platics from the garbages and send it to the recycling centre. After it the plastic went into some process and became raw material.

After the plastic collected from garbage the recycling centre takes it into four main process. After recycling centre, firstly, it went into compressing blocks process, however the compressed blocks got crushed and it is ready to put into the machine for further process. Once it got put into the machine, the machine produced plastic pellets and the pellets went into the heating process to get the raw material from it. Last but not least the raw material will be ready and now the producers can make various products from that raw material such as plastic bottels, tiffin boxes, clothes, pencils, bags & so on.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a recycling process and give a broad overview that it ends with raw material being used to make products. You also mention several central stages, including compression, crushing, pellet production and heating. However, the account is only partial: it omits the initial disposal in a recycling bin, collection by truck, sorting at the centre, and the washing stage. The statement that there are nine processes is not followed by a complete description, and “the recycling centre takes it into four main process” is unclear and does not match the sequence. To strengthen the response, describe the full cycle in order, including the sorting decision and the arrow returning from end products to the bin.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure, moving from an introduction and overview to a description of later stages, and sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “Once,” and “Last but not least” help signal order. However, progression is not consistently clear: the account begins with collection, then restarts with “After the plastic collected from garbage,” and the first stages are not fully connected to the later ones. Some references, such as “it” and “the machine,” are vague, while “however” does not express a contrast between compression and crushing. Organise the stages once, in chronological order, and use precise links such as “Next,” “After washing,” and “Finally” to make the process easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “compressing,” “crushed,” “pellets,” “heating,” and “raw material,” so the main idea is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several noticeable word-choice, spelling, or form errors reduce precision: “recycleer,” “platics,” “bottels,” and “tiffin boxes” are unsuitable or misspelled, while “the process seems too interesting” is an informal, subjective comment rather than useful process description. Phrases such as “went into some process” are also vague. Aim for accurate, neutral terms such as “is transported,” “is sorted,” and “is washed,” and check spelling and collocations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence with “Once,” and the reader can usually understand the intended stages. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “The diagram illustrare” has an incorrect verb form, “there are total nine process illustrate” lacks accurate agreement and structure, and “After the plastic collected” is missing an auxiliary. Tense also shifts between “went” and “will be ready” without a clear reason. Practise consistent present simple or passive forms for process descriptions, for example, “The bottles are collected and taken to a recycling centre,” and check each sentence for a complete verb phrase.

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