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 illustrates the process for recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, plastic bottles recycling process contains 9 stages. Initial stage is individuals used bottles put into bin and the ending stage is producing end products.

To begin with, the first stage of recycling process that is used plastic place into waste bin and all waste material are transported by truck to recycling center. After that, viable bottles are placed into a different box and which are not good conditions are put into a different box after sorting process materials are compressing into blocks after that crushing process is start where compressing things are crushed into pieces and washed these chunks along with produce plastic pellets by using machine.

Moreover, when plastic pellets are made heat them and next heating pellets are converted into raw material form, when raw material plastic are made these materials are converted into new products. Plastic raw materials are used to produce many products like bottles shirts pencils etc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a recycling process and give a clear overall account of its nine stages, from putting bottles in a bin to producing new goods. The main sequence is mostly represented, including collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and conversion into raw material. However, some details are unclear or incomplete: the sorting stage is described as separating bottles by condition, but the diagram’s checkmark and X simply indicate accepted and rejected items. You also omit that the process is a closed loop, with end products returning to consumer use, and give only a few examples of the products shown. More precise coverage of these features would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “After that,” and “Moreover” help the reader follow the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, with “after that” repeated, and several stages are crowded into long sentences. For example, the sentence beginning “After that, viable bottles…” moves from sorting through compression, crushing and washing without clear sentence boundaries. The relationship between heating the pellets and forming raw material is also difficult to follow. Use shorter, clearly punctuated sentences and vary linking expressions to make the progression smoother and references more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “crushing,” “washed,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” which allows the main stages to be understood. There is also some useful variation in referring to the material as “chunks” and “plastic pellets.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “used bottles,” “different box,” “not good conditions,” and “compressing things.” “Waste material” is also too broad for the bottles being described. These choices reduce precision, particularly when explaining what happens at the sorting and processing stages. Aim for standard process collocations such as “discarded bottles,” “rejected bottles,” and “the plastic is compressed,” and check that each noun refers clearly to the material or product.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “when” and “after,” and the overall meaning can generally be followed. However, some errors in sentence structure, verb forms, agreement and articles make parts difficult to read. For example, “individuals used bottles put into bin” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “all waste material are transported” has an agreement error. In “compressing things are crushed into pieces and washed these chunks,” the clauses are joined incorrectly, and “when plastic pellets are made heat them” has an unclear subject and verb pattern. Practise forming accurate passive sentences for process descriptions, such as “The bottles are sorted, compressed and crushed,” and separate linked stages with full stops or appropriate conjunctions.

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