Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-18

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 dagram ilustrates the process of recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, the process of recycling plastic bottles contains 9 steps to complete it.It all started with throwing plastics in garbage and in between it contains several stages to complete full cycle.

Initially, the process starts with throwing the plastics in the dustbin.After that,the garbage truck lift all the dustbin to a recycling centre.In recycling centre all the plastics are sorted.After sorting out the plastics,they are compressed in to blocks.Furthermore,plastics are crushed using the crushing machine.while crushing all the crushed plastic are washed using water

In the next stage, the machines are used to produce the plastic pellets.Then the plastic pellets are heated into the form of raw materials.All the raw materials are placed on horizontally in the tables.Finally,the products are made using raw materials.Water bottles ,pencil and vest are manufactured from plastics.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a recycling process and report several central stages, including sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. However, the overview is vague: it says the process has nine steps but does not clearly explain that it is a closed cycle, and the account omits the collection truck’s role and the return from end products to the recycling bin. Some details are inaccurate or unclear, such as saying raw materials are placed “on horizontally in the tables”; the diagram shows them bound on a pallet. The final products are also only partly represented. The response is below the required 150 words, which limits the detail available. A fuller overview and accurate coverage of the loop would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing stages in sequence. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “After that,” “Furthermore,” and “In the next stage” help the reader follow the process. However, progression is not consistently smooth: the overview repeats the introduction, and the stages are crowded into long paragraphs with little punctuation or clear separation. The transition from crushing to washing is especially difficult to follow, while “Finally” suggests an endpoint even though the diagram shows a cycle returning to the start. Use clearer paragraphing and link the final stage back to bottle disposal; vary transitions and ensure each one accurately reflects the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “sorted,” “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets,” and “raw materials,” so the main stages are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or repetitive: “plastics” is repeated where “plastic bottles” or “plastic” would be more natural, and “garbage,” “dustbin,” and “tables” do not accurately describe the diagram’s recycling bin, pallet or materials. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “dagram,” “ilustrates,” and “in to.” These do not prevent understanding throughout, but they reduce precision. Build a more accurate process vocabulary and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use sequencing clauses, for example, “After sorting out the plastics, they are compressed into blocks.” However, sentence structures are mostly simple, and errors occur frequently in sentence boundaries, agreement, articles and prepositions. Examples include “It all started with throwing plastics in garbage,” “the garbage truck lift,” and “all the crushed plastic are washed.” The sentence beginning “while crushing” is also joined to the preceding idea without appropriate punctuation, and spacing after full stops is inconsistent. These errors sometimes make relationships between stages harder to follow. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions, such as “the bottles are collected” and “the plastic is washed,” alongside careful punctuation.

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