Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-27

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 diagram below shows how plastic bottles are recycled and the step by step proccess.

Step number one: Everything starts with us, throwing away the plastic into the right container. then is step number 2: when the recyling truck would come to collect them.

Step number 3: Once in the recycling centre, the staff would sort the merchandise, avoiding plastic that might be missplaced in the container.

Step number 4 and 5: Then its sent to a machine that would compress the plastics into blocks for them to be crushed, after is chrushed it would be left for some time in water, for cleaning, the residuals are called plastic pellets.

Step number 6 and 7 : staff would pour this pellets into a machine that heat them to create a new raw material

step number 8: the raw material is created and separated in even quantities for distribution

step number 9: Companies can now produce new products wuch as tshirts, food containers, pencils, bags, etc.

and then we go back to step one, once those products are back at the recyling containers because they were dumped.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You cover the main stages from placing bottles in a bin through collection, sorting, processing and making new products, and you recognise that the process loops back to the start. However, the account is only partly accurate and the overview is not clearly separated from the step-by-step description. For example, the diagram shows washing before the plastic is made into pellets, but your wording suggests the pellets are the residuals after washing. You also say the raw material is “separated in even quantities for distribution,” which is not shown. The final return to the bin is relevant, but it is attributed to products being dumped rather than clearly explaining that some end products can re-enter the recycling cycle. Focus on accurately summarising the stages and the circular nature of the process, without adding unsupported details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in broadly chronological order, and labels such as “Step number one” and “Step number 3” help the reader follow the process. The response also makes the overall sequence understandable. However, the repeated step-by-step openings create a list-like structure, and there is no clear paragraphing or distinct overview to guide the reader. Some links between stages are awkward or unclear, particularly “after is chrushed it would be left for some time in water,” and the shift from step 9 back to step 1 is abrupt. Group related stages into a few paragraphs and use concise transitions to show how one material changes into the next. This would make the progression smoother and reduce reliance on repeated numbering.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling centre,” “compress,” “raw material,” and “food containers,” so the topic is generally clear. There is some variety in how you describe the stages, but word choice and spelling are often imprecise. “Merchandise” is not suitable for the bottles being sorted, while “residuals” does not accurately name the plastic pellets. Several misspellings, including “proccess,” “recyling,” “chrushed,” and “wuch,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process terms and check spelling carefully. For example, describe the bottles as being sorted, washed, crushed into pieces, and processed into pellets rather than using less suitable or unclear labels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentences, such as the explanation of compressing and crushing, and the reader can usually understand the intended sequence. However, the range of sentence structures is limited, and errors occur frequently in verb forms, sentence construction, agreement and punctuation. For instance, “then is step number 2” lacks a subject, while “staff would pour this pellets” has incorrect agreement and determiner use. The sentence beginning “after is chrushed” is also structurally faulty, and several stages begin with lowercase letters after full stops. Use complete sentences with a consistent present simple passive where appropriate, such as “The bottles are collected and taken to a recycling centre.” Check each sentence for a subject, a correctly formed verb and clear punctuation.

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