Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-19

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 displays the process of recycling that how plastic bottles are recycled. The procedure consist of 8 major stages.

The process starts from the throwing of plastic bottles into trash and after passing through several stages , it ends to producing the different products.

Recycling of plastic bottles starts from the throwing of these bottles into the garbage and then it is picked by the garbage carying vehicle and reaches at recycling center . Where plastic bottles are seprated from other trash.In following step these bottles are keep into compression blocks.

Further these compressed blocks are sent for crushing into crushing machine and then washed. In next step these washed material converted into plastic pellets.At next stage plastic pellets are heated to form it into raw material for making the products of plastic. Then raw material is converted into different plastic products .

Then again after using we throw it in trash and the whole process again repeats

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main subject and give a broadly accurate account of the sequence, including collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating and the creation of new products. The overview also recognises that the process repeats. However, the opening says there are “8 major stages,” although the diagram shows nine numbered stages, and “throwing ... into trash” misrepresents the first step: bottles are placed in a recycling bin. The account also omits the sorting decision between accepted and rejected bottles and gives little detail about the range of end products or the return loop. To strengthen the summary, state the full cycle accurately and select these key features without adding unsupported details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure: an introduction, a brief overview, and paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Time markers such as “In following step,” “Further,” and “At next stage” help the reader follow the process. However, progression is sometimes weakened by awkward links and unclear references. For example, “Where plastic bottles are separated...” is a sentence fragment, while “these bottles” and “these compressed blocks” require the reader to infer their precise referents. The final paragraph repeats the idea of disposal and restarting rather than integrating the loop into the overview. Use clearer paragraphing and connect each stage with accurate, varied transitions and explicit references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling center,” “compression blocks,” “crushing machine,” “plastic pellets,” and “raw material,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate: “trash” and “garbage” do not describe the recycling bin, “garbage carying vehicle” is an imprecise description of the collection truck, and “keep into compression blocks” does not express the process naturally. Spelling errors such as “seprated” and “carying” are also noticeable. Aim for precise process terms and check spelling; for example, use “recycling bin,” “collection truck,” and “compressed into blocks.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, and the sequence is usually understandable. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between stages difficult to follow. Examples include “The procedure consist” (subject–verb agreement), “the process of recycling that how” (faulty clause construction), and “these washed material converted” (number and missing verb). Articles and prepositions are also often missing or incorrect, as in “reaches at recycling center” and “into compression blocks.” Sentence boundaries need attention too: “Where plastic bottles are separated...” is a fragment, and spacing before punctuation is inconsistent. Practise accurate past-passive forms such as “the bottles are sorted” and “the material is washed.”

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