Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 into nine various steps.

Overall, the process consists of different nine stages. This process starts from putting waste plastic material into trash bins. in the mid of the process all material washed by water. Then this process ends to producing the products ready to utilze.

The process starts from putting useless plastic material into trash bins. Then the vehicles come to collecting material from bins. In next stage material is filtered by persons after that it compressed into blocks. In the fifth stage material is crushed by machines and washed it with water. In addition, there are some machines for heating and producing plastics peilets and changed its shape itno raw material. In the second last step raw material is ready for the final process. In the final stage raw material separate into different categories for producing products and we can produce varous things from raw material like pencils, lunch box and bottles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages from disposal and collection through sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and the creation of finished goods. The opening overview also identifies the process as a sequence that ends with products, and examples such as “pencils, lunch box and bottles” are supported by the diagram. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows accepted bottles being sorted from rejected items, not simply “filtered,” and the final products do not separate into categories. The overview also misses the important feature that the process forms a loop, with end products leading back to the recycling bin. A more precise overview and clearer description of sorting and the cycle would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph describing the stages in sequence. Connectors such as “Then,” “In addition,” and “In the final stage” help the reader follow the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, with repeated use of “process,” “material,” and “stage,” and the overview’s sequence of “starts,” “mid,” and “ends” does not clearly convey the diagram’s circular nature. Some links between steps are also abrupt, particularly the move from washing to heating and pellet production. Use clearer referencing and varied transitions, and group related stages into a more continuous explanation so the progression is easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “washed,” “heating,” and “raw material,” which helps communicate the main operations. There is also some attempt to use more specific terms, such as “vehicles” and “categories.” However, several word choices and spelling errors reduce precision: “filtered” is not the right description of sorting, “utilze” and “peilets” are misspelled, and “useless plastic material” is less suitable than a neutral description of discarded bottles. Phrases such as “different nine stages” and “changed its shape itno raw material” are also awkward. Build accuracy with standard process collocations and check spelling and word forms before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a sequence joined with “after that” and a clause beginning “like pencils, lunch box and bottles.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms are noticeable. For example, “all material washed by water” needs a passive verb (“is washed”), while “after that it compressed” also needs an auxiliary. The sentence “In addition, there are some machines for heating and producing plastics peilets and changed its shape” shifts awkwardly between verb forms and has unclear agreement. Capitalisation after “bins.” and punctuation around transitions also need attention. Practise accurate passive forms, which are especially useful for describing processes.

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