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 below reveals the initial and final stage of recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, recycling plastic bottles consist of nine stages. Beginning with throwing bottles into a garbage box and ending with producing different products like cloths, stationery and new bottles.

In first stage, bottles were thrown into a garbage box then a garbage truck collect it and send it to a recycling centre for sorting. In forth stage, all bottles were compressed into blocks and then these blocks were pass through crusher that crush them into small pieces that pieces drop into a water tank for washing.

In sixth stage, clean pieces of bottles were thrown into a special machine to produce plastic pellets and then these pellets were heated to form a raw material. Finaly in 8th stage, raw material were formed. Then in final stage from this raw material they produce different necessary products like cloths, stationery and new bottles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from putting bottles in a bin through collection, sorting, processing and making new products. The overview identifies the nine stages and the circular nature is suggested by the opening and ending, but it would be clearer to state explicitly that the process loops back to the recycling bin. Several details are accurate, including compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. However, the sorting stage’s rejection of unsuitable bottles is omitted, and the description of the final products is less precise: the diagram shows items such as food containers, a T-shirt, pencils and a carrier bag, rather than simply “cloths” and “stationery.” Covering these features more fully and clearly would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing successive stages. The process is generally presented in the correct order, and sequencing words such as “then” help the reader follow it. However, progression is sometimes mechanical, with “then” repeated, and the stage references are not consistently helpful: “In forth stage” is followed by several later steps, while “Finaly in 8th stage” makes the sequence harder to track. The overview’s second sentence is also a fragment rather than a complete statement. Grouping the stages into clearer phases and using accurate transitions and references would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crusher,” “washing,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which allows the main steps to be understood. There is some repetition of general words such as “bottles,” “blocks” and “products,” and a few choices are imprecise or unnatural. For example, “garbage box” is less suitable than “recycling bin,” and “cloths” does not accurately name the T-shirt shown. “Necessary products” is also vague, while “special machine” gives little information. Spelling slips such as “Finaly” and “forth” are noticeable. More precise process terms and accurate names for the depicted items would improve clarity and range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence joined with “then,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. However, errors in verb forms and agreement occur in several places: “a garbage truck collect it,” “these blocks were pass,” and “raw material were formed.” The overview sentence beginning “Beginning with throwing…” is a fragment, and “recycling plastic bottles consist” has a subject–verb agreement error. Articles and plural forms also need attention, as in “In first stage” and “different necessary products.” Aim to produce complete sentences and check agreement and passive verb forms; this would make the process description more accurate and easier to read.

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