Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-01

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 process chart illustrates that how plastic bottles been recycled.

Overall, the process involves with eight main steps starting from bottle throwing in recycle bin to the products we use in daily life.

To begin with we use plastic and throw it in recycle bin after that at the end of the day the recycling transport the plastic to the recycling centre. At the recycling centre sorting was done of plastic materials and other, once sorting is done after that they compressing plastic into blocks by hydraulic press.

Followed by compressing, now crushing the blocks in machine and put the water tank below the crushing machine simultaneously washing being done. After washing now putting these crushed plastic into another machine from upward to produce plastic pallets and pallets being carried out another side. In seventh step heating the pallets to make raw material. Finally raw material made, in this raw material different usable things been made like tiffin box, pencil, water bottle and many other things and this process continues ib these steps on repeat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from disposal and collection through sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating and making new products. The overview also identifies the cycle from bottles to usable items, and examples such as a pencil and water bottle are supported by the diagram. However, the overview says there are “eight main steps,” while the diagram shows nine numbered stages, and the account does not clearly explain that the finished products lead back to the recycling bin. Some details are also unclear or inaccurate: sorting separates suitable bottles from rejected material, rather than “plastic materials and other,” and the diagram does not specify a hydraulic press. A more precise overview and clearer treatment of the loop would make the key features more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and a chronological description of the stages. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Followed by” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. However, some links are mechanical or confusing, particularly “after that at the end of the day” and “once sorting is done after that.” The long final sentence combines heating, raw material and end products without clearly separating the stages, while “this process continues ib these steps on repeat” does not clearly identify how the cycle returns to the start. Use one paragraph for the overview and organise the details into shorter, clearly linked groups of stages, with precise references to what moves from one stage to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressing,” “crushing,” “washing” and “raw material,” so the reader can generally understand the stages. There are also attempts to describe machinery and outputs. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “recycling transport the plastic,” “plastic pallets” for pellets, and “tiffin box” where the diagram shows food containers. “Products we use in daily life” is understandable but broad, and “usable things” is informal and vague. Spelling and word-form errors, including “pallets” and “ib,” also reduce accuracy. Build a more precise process vocabulary and check technical terms carefully; for example, use “collection truck,” “plastic pellets” and “finished products.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the sequence is usually understandable. However, errors in verb forms, sentence construction and articles occur across the response. For example, “plastic bottles been recycled” needs a passive form such as “plastic bottles are recycled,” while “sorting was done” and “they compressing plastic” do not maintain accurate tense or structure. The opening “illustrates that how” also combines two incompatible patterns. Several sentences run together, especially the description beginning “Followed by compressing,” making relationships between actions harder to follow. Practise accurate passive constructions for process descriptions and use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs. Shorter sentences, joined with appropriate conjunctions, would improve control while still allowing some complex structures.

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