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 process demonstrates the stages that are involved in recycling the plastic bottles.

Overall, the process consists of 9 stages beginning with throwing plastic bottles in the dustbin and ending with the production of shopping bags, shirs, pencils, bottles and containers. The recycling process grafually goes through sorting , crushing and producing pallets then form raw materials befornit is woven into different products.

Initially, the bag full of plastic bottles is thrown in the Dustbin. In the next stage, the garbage truck picks the rubbish form the dustbin containers which is located everywhere in the streets. After that the rubbish is taken to the recycling centre where the workers sort out the bottles in different container and unusual stuff in the other container. In the Fourth stage, the bottles arengetting compressed completely into blocks and then talen into the stage of cushing those blocks through machine and washimg them.

Following this, the crushed materials is taken into the production of pallets and then it goes through the process of heating to form raw materials. Finally, in the end stage, through the raw materials, different products are being made.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a recycling process and give a useful overview of its nine stages, from disposal to the production of new items. The main sequence—collection, sorting, compressing, crushing and washing, pellet production, and heating—is broadly represented. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: bottles are put in a recycling bin, not a dustbin, and the diagram shows acceptable and rejected items being separated rather than “unusual stuff.” The final products are listed in the overview, but the transformation from raw material into these products is only briefly described. To strengthen the report, describe the sorting decision accurately and explain that the finished products can re-enter the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by stages in sequence, with paragraphs beginning “Initially” and “Following this.” These markers help the reader follow the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and some references are difficult to interpret. For example, “the garbage truck picks the rubbish form the dustbin containers” does not clearly identify the bottles or the recycling bin, while “then it goes through the process” leaves the material’s referent somewhat vague. The overview also repeats several stages that are described again in the body. Use more precise references such as “the sorted bottles” and “the resulting pellets,” and group connected stages into smoother sentences to make progression clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressed,” “crushing,” “heating,” and “raw materials,” which allows the main stages to be understood. However, the range and precision are limited by repeated general words such as “stage,” “process,” and “different,” as well as inaccurate or misspelled forms. “Dustbin” misidentifies the recycling bin, “pallets” is used for plastic pellets, and “woven” is not an appropriate description of making products from raw material. Spelling errors such as “grafually,” “shirs,” and “washimg” also distract the reader. Build a more precise process vocabulary and check spelling and collocations carefully; for example, describe the material as being “moulded into” or “manufactured into” products.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “where the workers sort out the bottles” and a sequence linked with “and then.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. In “the garbage truck picks the rubbish … which is located,” the relative clause has an unclear antecedent and singular agreement; “the bottles are getting compressed” uses an awkward progressive passive; and “the crushed materials is taken” has a subject–verb agreement error. Articles and number also need attention in phrases such as “in different container.” Aim for more controlled passive forms typical of process descriptions, such as “the bottles are compressed,” and check agreement and singular/plural forms when revising.

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.