Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-30

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)

Introduction:

This process diagram shows many feauture for recycling plastic bottles.

Overview:

Overall, this gaves the process from throwing the bottles to producong end product and its consists 9 feauture.

Paragraph 1

Firstly, many bottles and plastics throwing in the city bins by the human. After this government vehicles that species for pick the dirty came here and get all the bottles from the bins. Then after drop in the machine its compressing all the plastics and converts in to blocks. On the other hand, these breaks and crushed all the plastics then these pieces washed in the water.

Paragraph 2

Additionally, producing plastics pellets through operator. Similarly, heating these pellets for create the form of raw material. Second last, all raw material convert in to special shapes after some times. At the last, again used for create the bottles, shirts, hand bags and also bring the boxes that needed for people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall sequence from putting bottles in bins through to making new products, and you note that the process has nine stages. Several key stages are also included, such as collection, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the diagram shows people placing bottles in a recycling bin, not “many bottles and plastics” being thrown into city bins, and it does not identify the collection vehicles as government vehicles or the bottles as dirty. The sorting stage, including the separation of unsuitable items, is omitted, while the final return arrow completing the cycle is not clearly explained. Develop a more precise overview and report each major stage in order, using only details supported by the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, overview and two paragraphs that broadly follow the process from collection to new products. Sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “After this,” “Additionally” and “At the last” help the reader follow the stages. However, some links are mechanical or unclear: “On the other hand” does not express a contrast between crushing and washing, and “Second last” is awkward for describing a process stage. The paragraphing also separates the stages without clearly grouping the initial collection and sorting from the later processing. Use straightforward sequence markers consistently, and make each sentence’s connection to the previous stage explicit; this would make the progression smoother and references such as “these” easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “compressing,” “crushed,” “washed,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which helps convey the main stages. However, the range is limited and several word choices or combinations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to interpret. For example, “government vehicles that species for pick the dirty” does not clearly describe a collection truck, and “convert in to special shapes” is not a precise description of producing end products. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “feauture” and “producong.” Build a bank of accurate process terms and collocations, such as “is collected,” “is sorted,” “is compressed into blocks” and “is turned into new products,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to describe a sequence using both simple sentences and longer clauses, and the reader can generally recognise the intended order. However, errors in verb forms, sentence construction, agreement and articles occur frequently and can make individual stages hard to understand. For instance, “many bottles and plastics throwing” lacks a correctly formed passive verb, while “this gaves the process” and “its consists 9 feauture” have faulty verb forms and sentence structure. The phrase “heating these pellets for create the form” also needs a grammatical pattern such as “heating the pellets to form.” Practise accurate passive constructions for process descriptions (“bottles are collected,” “the plastic is washed”) and check subject–verb agreement, articles and infinitive forms in each sentence.

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