Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-17

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 diagram tells the information about recycling process of the bottles.

The recycling process starts from throwing the bottles into the garbage box and then onwards to producing and products.

At first people throw the bottles in to the garbage baskests or recycling baskets than a garbage van comes and take all the bottles from baskets to the recycling centre. A staff at the centre start seprating the bottles in to two diiferent catagories which is best or not and then compress it in to the blocks.

After compressing into the blocks they start crushing into pieces and then wash it. After washing the staff members put the pieces into the machine and covert it into plastic pallets. These plastic pallets are converted in raw material through heating process and then the raw material is used as a clothes, plastic boxes and bottles and after usage they are thrown back to the garbage boxes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main sequence from disposal and collection through sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. The overview also recognises that the process returns to bottle use, which captures the diagram’s circular nature. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the first container is a recycling bin, not a “garbage box,” and sorting separates acceptable bottles from rejected items rather than simply “best or not.” The account also skips the distinct stage where raw material is formed and does not clearly explain that it is used to make several end products, including pencils and a carrier bag. More precise reporting of these stages and a clearer overview would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the process in broadly chronological order, and paragraph breaks separate the introduction, overview and detailed stages. Linking phrases such as “At first,” “After compressing,” and “After washing” help the reader follow the sequence. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview says “producing and products,” which is difficult to interpret, and the final sentence combines raw material, product examples and the return loop without clearly distinguishing these stages. Some links are repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “and then” or “then.” Organise the details into clearer stages and use more precise transitions, such as “Next,” “Following this,” and “Finally,” to improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “compressing,” “crushing,” “washing,” “machine,” and “raw material,” so the reader can identify most stages. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings reduce precision: “garbage baskests,” “seprating,” “diiferent,” “catagories,” and “pallets” (for pellets) are noticeable. Phrases such as “garbage van” and “best or not” are also imprecise for this diagram, while “converted in raw material” is not a natural collocation. Aim to use the diagram’s specific terms and check spelling carefully; more accurate process vocabulary would make the description clearer and more appropriate to an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the sequence is generally understandable. However, errors occur frequently in sentence structure, agreement, articles and verb forms. For example, “a garbage van comes and take” should use a singular verb, while “A staff … start” also has an agreement problem. The phrase “they are thrown back to the garbage boxes” has an unclear reference, and “the raw material is used as a clothes” has an incorrect article and plural construction. Several sentences rely on repeated “and then,” limiting structural variety. Practise building accurate passive sentences for processes, such as “The bottles are sorted” and “The pellets are heated,” and check agreement and articles in each clause.

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