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 image shows the process of recycling of plastic bottles that is very crucial to protact environment. In the first step of recycling, individuals pour bottles in a dustbin. The truck from government come and collect the bottles. After that the bottles are taken to the sorting area where a worker sort bottles based on the requirements i.e; plastic bottles in first container and other plastic items in the second container. Furthermore,the desired items are compressed into blocks and the process of crushing begins.

The crushed pieces than go for washing and the process continues until it produces plastic pellets. A significant amount of heat is given to the pellets to make raw materials from it. The material is than used for producing different kind of products that mainly includes stationary, shirts, plastic bags and instruments. Using plastics for making such a benificial items require significant time and objects but its advantages outweigh the requirements especially in long term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main sequence from putting bottles in a bin through collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. However, the overview is not clearly stated, and the final comment about the process being beneficial and requiring time and objects is evaluative rather than a summary of the diagram. Some details are inaccurate or unclear: the sorting stage separates acceptable bottles from rejected items, not “plastic bottles” from “other plastic items,” and the diagram shows a range of end products, not “instruments.” The closed loop—where end products can return to the recycling bin—is also an important feature that is omitted. A concise overview and more precise reporting of the sorting and loop would make the account more complete and better focused on the visual information.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are presented in a generally logical order, and sequencing phrases such as “In the first step,” “After that,” and “Furthermore” help the reader follow the process. The response is also arranged as a continuous account rather than jumping between stages. However, the progression becomes less clear near the end: “The material is than used” does not clearly distinguish the raw material from the finished products, and the concluding opinion about advantages does not connect naturally to the process description. Some linking is mechanical, and punctuation spacing is inconsistent, as in “Furthermore,the.” Grouping the stages into an introduction and overview followed by the main process would make the organisation clearer, while more precise references would strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting area,” “compressed into blocks,” “crushing,” “washing,” and “plastic pellets,” which allows the reader to understand most stages. There is also some attempt at more formal wording, such as “significant amount of heat.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “dustbin” is less suitable than “recycling bin” here, “stationary” does not mean stationery items, and “instruments” is not a clear description of the products shown. Spelling errors such as “protact,” “benificial,” and “than” for “then” are noticeable. Aim for precise labels from the diagram and check spelling and word forms; this would make the vocabulary more accurate and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures, for example, “After that the bottles are taken to the sorting area where a worker sort bottles…” and “Using plastics for making such a benificial items require…” The sequence is usually understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent in “The truck … come,” “a worker sort,” and “items require”; articles and number are also problematic in “a benificial items” and “different kind of products.” The passive construction “is than used” also needs the correct sequence marker, “then.” Use passive forms consistently for the process and check agreement, articles, and singular/plural forms. More accurate control of these patterns would support the range of sentence structures you are attempting.

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