Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-20

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 shows information about how plastic bottles can be recycled.

In general, it can be clearly seen that the recycling process of plastic bottels have several stages and all the stages are essential to complete the recycling prosess.

Looking at the diagram in more detail, firstly, the plastic bottles are collected and loaded into truck. In the third step, the bottles are delievered to the recycling centre and there the bottles are sorted. Then, the bottles are compressed into blocks. In the next stage, the compressed bottles are crushed them with the help of machines and then the pieces of bottels are washed into the plane water.

What is more, pellets are produced by putting by putting the pieces into the machine. After that, pellets are heated to form raw material. In the last step, enough procucts can be made from the raw material, such as pencils, bags and bottles and this process repeated after the wastage of this products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages from collection and sorting through processing to the production of new goods, and you identify the key overall feature: the process repeats. Examples such as bottles being “compressed into blocks,” then crushed and washed, show relevant detail. However, some stages are not fully or accurately described. The diagram shows bottles placed in a recycling bin before collection by truck, but your account begins with collection and does not clearly report the bin stage. “In the third step” also misidentifies delivery as occurring at that point; the bottles are delivered before sorting. The overview is general rather than highlighting the closed-loop sequence. Include the initial disposal stage and describe the return from end products to the bin more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a general overview, and a chronological account of the process. Sequencing expressions such as “firstly,” “Then,” “After that,” and “In the last step” help the reader follow the stages. The progression is generally logical, although some links are mechanical and the final reference to the cycle is not fully clear: “this process repeated after the wastage of this products” leaves the return to the recycling bin implicit. There is also a confusing transition in “In the third step,” since delivery is described after collection but is not clearly distinguished from sorting. Use more precise stage references and connect the final products explicitly back to the first stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “sorted,” “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” which helps convey the main operations. However, spelling errors and awkward or imprecise word choices are noticeable, including “bottels,” “delievered,” “prosess,” and “procucts.” Some phrases are also unnatural or unclear, such as “washed into the plane water” and “enough products can be made.” Repetition of “bottles” and “stage” limits flexibility. Aim for accurate process collocations and more precise nouns and verbs—for example, describe plastic pieces as being washed in water and state that the raw material is used to manufacture a range of products.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “products … such as pencils, bags and bottles” and a sequence joined with “and then.” The main stages are usually understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. In “the recycling process … have several stages,” the singular subject requires “has”; “loaded into truck” needs an article; and “the compressed bottles are crushed them” has an incorrect construction. The final sentence also needs a clear subject and verb, such as “the process is repeated,” and “this products” requires plural agreement. These errors do not generally prevent understanding, but improving agreement, articles, and sentence construction would make the account more controlled.

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