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)

The diagram illustrates the process for recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, in the diagram there are total 9 stages of recycling plastic bottles starting from collect the waste materials and the process is cyclic process.

At the begining, collect all the waste materials like used plastic bottle from bins then it should be loaded in truck and transport into recycling center. plastic bottles are sorted and compressing into blocks . Afterthat, bottles are crushed in chamber and they cut into small pieces then they are washed by water.

In addition, washed pieces are put in electronic machine for producing plastic pellets and they changed into small particles. Although, pellets are heated in the sunlight to form raw materials. Apart from that raw materials are ready to produce different kinds of product which are beneficial for human beings. Finally, numerous products are made from raw materials. For instance, clothes, tiffin box, pencils, bottles and other things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a nine-stage cycle and cover its main route from collection through sorting and processing to the production of new goods. This gives the reader a relevant overview, and examples such as clothes, boxes and pencils reflect the diagram. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the pellets are heated to form raw material, not heated in sunlight, and the diagram does not say that the pieces become “small particles” at the pellet-making stage. The description also does not clearly explain that unsuitable bottles are separated during sorting or that the finished products feed back into the cycle. More precise reporting of these features, without adding unsupported details, would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Time markers such as “At the beginning,” “In addition,” and “Finally” help signal progression, and the overall cycle is mentioned. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship accurately. “Although” introduces no contrast, while “Apart from that” is not a clear link between raw material and end products. The stages are also compressed together in places, particularly sorting, compressing and crushing, so the reader has to work to follow the sequence. Use fewer, more precise transitions and make each stage’s connection to the next explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorted,” “compressing,” “crushed,” “washed,” “pellets,” and “raw materials,” which allows the main stages to be understood. There is also some variety in how the products are described. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or repetitive: “collect the waste materials” is awkward for describing the first stage, “electronic machine” is not the term shown or needed, and “beneficial for human beings” adds a general claim rather than describing the diagram. Spelling and word-form slips such as “begining” and “Afterthat” also reduce accuracy. Choose concise process terms and use the diagram’s labels where they are clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and longer structures, and the sequence can generally be followed. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, with frequent errors in sentence construction and verb forms. For example, “there are total 9 stages” needs an article and a more natural construction, while “starting from collect” should use a noun or an -ing form. In “plastic bottles are sorted and compressing into blocks,” the verb forms do not match; “they changed into small particles” also shifts tense and has an unclear subject. Capitalisation after full stops is inconsistent, and several sentences lack clear grammatical links. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions and check each sentence for a complete subject and verb.

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