Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-28

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 PICTURE PORTRAY THE WHOLE PROCESS OF RECYCLING PLACIS BOTTLES. THERE ARE TOTAL NINE STAGES OF RECYCLING PROCESS WHICH STARTS WITH PEOPLE THROWING WASTE BOTTELS IN DUSTBIN AND AFTER FEW STEPS PLACTIC IS READY TO CONVERT IN TO OTHER ROW MATERIALS SUCH AS NEW BOTTELS, CLOTHS, BOXES AND STATIONARY MATERIALS.

TO COMMENCE WITH, PEOPLE USUALLY DISPOSE THE WASTE PRODUCTS IN DUSTBIN AND IT IS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT AUTHORISED TRUCK. WHICH GOES THROUGH SORTING IN RECYCLING CENTER WITH ALL THE WASTE PLASTIC. THEN IT IS COMPRESSING IN THE MACHINE AND IT MADE IN SMALLER IN SIZE CONVERTING IN TO CRUSHING ALSO DONE BY MACHINE.

MOREOVER, THE CRUSHING MATERIAL GOES FOR WASING. AFTER THAT PROCESS CONTINUED WITH PRODUCING PLASTIC PELLETS IN PERTICULAR MACHINE BY OTHER TECHNOLOGY AND THE PLASTIC PELLETS HEATED INTO RAW MATERIAL.THE RAW MATERIAL CONVERT IN THE NEW PRODUCTS LIKE CLOTHS, BAGS, PENCILS, BOTTLES AND STORAGE CONTAINER. THIS IS HOW THE PROCESS MADE NEW MATERIALS FROM GARBAGE OF PLASTIC.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a nine-stage recycling process and give a useful overview: bottles are collected, processed, and turned into new products. Most of the main stages are included, including sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, and heating. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the diagram shows sorting at a recycling centre, not necessarily by the government, and the bottles are compressed into blocks before being crushed. The overview also says the plastic becomes “other raw materials,” whereas the diagram shows raw material being made and then used to produce end products. Mentioning that unsuitable bottles are separated at sorting and that the final stage loops back to disposal would make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall sequence, moving from disposal and collection through processing to the production of new items. The opening overview and the two following paragraphs provide a recognisable structure, and transitions such as “To commence with,” “Moreover,” and “After that” help guide the reader. This gives the account coherent progression. However, some links are mechanical or unclear: “Which goes through sorting” is an incomplete sentence, and “then it is compressing … and it made in smaller in size converting in to crushing” makes the order of actions difficult to follow. Use complete sentences and connect each stage explicitly—for example, state that the sorted bottles are compressed into blocks, then crushed and washed. Clearer referencing would also help distinguish the plastic, pellets, and raw material.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “crushing,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” and you identify several end products. This shows a basic range suited to the topic. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable and sometimes make the description harder to understand: “placis,” “bottels,” “wasing,” and “perticular” obscure otherwise relevant terms. Some phrases are also imprecise or unnatural, such as “dustbin,” “other technology,” and “storage container” for the products shown. Aim for accurate process collocations and consistent terminology, such as “recycling bin,” “plastic is washed,” and “plastic pellets are heated.” Proofreading spelling would make your meaning more accessible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the reader can generally follow the broad sequence. However, control of sentence structure and verb forms is uneven. For example, “The picture portray” has subject–verb disagreement, while “Then it is compressing in the machine” uses an unsuitable verb form for a process description. “Which goes through sorting” is a sentence fragment, and “the raw material convert in the new products” lacks the correct passive construction. Articles and punctuation also need attention, particularly where full stops separate dependent clauses. Practise describing processes with consistent present simple passive forms, such as “The bottles are sorted, compressed, and crushed,” and check that each sentence has a complete main clause.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.