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 provided illustration shows the detailed process of recycling platic bottles through various stages initatiting from dumping in trash cans leading to the production of end products. The pickup trucks collect the trash from the recycle bins from different neighbourhoods and other surroundings and take it to the recycling centre where the sorting takes place, followed by the compressing the material into blocks. These blocks are formed in a shape of cube and are ready to go through the crushing phase. The next step is to pass these blocks through a crusher. During thes same step, this crushed material is then washed into a giant container, which leads to the production of plastic pallets. These plastic pallets are heated to an extent where the raw material is formed, and packed to supply, hence moving forward to the final step of producing the end products, such as shirts, storage boxes, pencils, bags and water bottles etc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main sequence from collection through processing to the production of end products, and the examples of bottles, containers, shirts, pencils and bags are relevant. However, the account is largely a running description rather than a clear overview of the process as a whole. It does not mention that the stages form a cycle, including the return from end products to the recycling bin, and the sorting stage’s rejection of unsuitable bottles is omitted. Some details are also imprecise: the diagram shows plastic pellets, not “plastic pallets,” and the bottles are sorted before being compressed. To strengthen the response, state the cyclical nature upfront and report each key stage accurately, including the final return arrow.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are generally presented in a sensible order, and linking expressions such as “followed by,” “The next step,” and “hence” help the reader follow the process. The response also moves from collection to the final products without major disruption. However, it is written as one long paragraph, so the overview and the detailed stages are not clearly separated. Some links are awkward or repetitive, particularly “During thes same step” and “which leads to,” whose reference is not fully clear. Use a brief opening overview, then a separate paragraph for the sequence, and choose precise links such as “After washing” and “The pellets are then heated.” This would make progression clearer and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “crushing,” “washed,” and “raw material,” which helps describe the stages. Some choices are also specific, such as “crusher” and “container.” However, several inaccurate or unnatural expressions reduce precision: “dumping in trash cans” is less suitable than describing bottles being placed in recycling bins, “plastic pallets” confuses pellets with pallets, and “heated to an extent” is vague. There are also spelling errors, including “platic” and “initatiting.” Aim for accurate technical terms and natural collocations, and proofread spelling so that the reader can distinguish clearly between the material and the equipment or packaging.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mixture of sentence forms, including longer clauses linked with “where,” “which,” and “hence,” and the overall meaning is usually understandable. However, some complex constructions are awkward or incomplete. For example, “followed by the compressing the material” has an incorrect article and structure, while “These blocks are formed in a shape of cube” needs more accurate article use. The long opening sentence also combines several stages in a way that makes the relationships harder to follow. Use a clearer range of controlled sentences, checking articles, verb patterns and clause references. For instance, separate the collection and sorting stages, then use a direct passive construction such as “The bottles are compressed into blocks.”

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