Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-13

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 processs chart illustrates the information regarding selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Overall, the process contain 7 steps. Starting with sorting,compressing, ending with producing and products.

To start with, used bottel put in recycled bin by masses, it then collected by the trucks and tranfer into recycling center. After that, in factory the bottels sorting in box by workers, and then compressed by machine in square blocks . The blocks are crushed into a cutter and form into small.

Moving on, the small partical washed by liquid in a box and then produced in plastic pellets by a machine. The pellets are through in heat to coverted in raw material, then the raw material is ready to form different products. Such as, plastic bottel, box, bag, pencil, and also in t-shirts. Finally, the products are ready to pack and distribution in market and to come in reuse by people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You describe the main stages from disposal through collection, sorting, processing and the creation of new products, and you correctly identify several outputs, including bottles, bags, pencils and T-shirts. However, the overview is inaccurate: the diagram has nine stages, not “7 steps,” and it begins with bottles being placed in a recycling bin rather than “Starting with sorting.” The response also omits the sorting decision that some bottles are rejected, and adds unsupported details such as products being packed and distributed to markets. The task is also five words below the required minimum; the 11 words copied from the prompt are not counted. To strengthen the summary, give an accurate overview of the complete cycle and describe only features shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is divided into an overview and two body paragraphs, and sequencing phrases such as “To start with,” “Moving on,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. The stages are generally presented in the correct order. However, the overview does not match the sequence that follows, and the first body paragraph ends abruptly with “form into small,” leaving the crushing stage incomplete. Some links are mechanical or unclear, particularly “then” repeated across several steps and “Finally” introducing distribution, which is not shown in the diagram. Improve progression by grouping the stages into clear phases and using precise links that show how each material changes from one stage to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling center,” “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” which helps communicate the general sequence. However, the range is limited and several spelling or word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand: “bottel,” “tranfer,” “partical,” and “coverted.” Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “put in recycled bin by masses,” “washed by liquid in a box,” and “through in heat.” Choose accurate process terms and check spelling; for example, describe bottles as being placed in a recycling bin, plastic pieces as being washed, and pellets as being heated. More precise vocabulary would make the stages clearer without adding unsupported detail.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect stages in longer sentences, for example, “The pellets are through in heat to coverted in raw material,” but these complex constructions are often faulty. There are frequent problems with verb forms and sentence structure, including “the process contain,” “the bottels sorting,” and “the small partical washed.” Articles and plurals are also inconsistent, as in “in recycled bin” and “different products. Such as.” These errors sometimes make the intended process hard to follow. Practise using passive forms for a process description, such as “the bottles are sorted” and “the pellets are heated,” and check subject–verb agreement, articles and sentence boundaries. A wider range of accurately controlled sentences would improve clarity.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.