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 diagram illustrates the step-by-step process of recucling the plastic container.

Overall, the process begins with the collecting plastic bottles from the bin and ends with making new products such as bottles, bags, or t-shirts. Meanwhile, the procedure involved in nine different stages.

In terms of recycling plastic container collected from the bin andf then the plasticv container transported by a lorry or truck. Afterwards, the truck go into recycling center and in the next stage a man or women separate different containers its called sorting. The next stage, plastic container compressed by machine in blocks and create a small box shape.

In the up coming stage, the plastic bottles crushed by machine and cleaned by water for separate the organic metal. In the middle stage, the plastic pellets produced a raw meterial by a copper machine. Then heated the pellets by fire to made raw meterials. In the final stage, the raw material produce different kinds of products such as plastic container, t-shirt, bag, or pen, for the user.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from disposal and collection through sorting, processing and the production of new goods, and your overview identifies the start and end products. These are relevant features of the diagram. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the diagram shows washing after crushing, but the claim that this separates “organic metal” is not supported; it also shows pellets being heated to form raw material, rather than pellets producing raw material in a “copper machine.” The overview could more clearly explain that the process is a closed loop, with end products returning to consumer use. Develop the intermediate stages more precisely and avoid adding explanations that the diagram does not provide.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged in a broadly logical order, moving from the overview to the early, middle and final stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Afterwards,” “The next stage” and “In the final stage” help the reader follow the process. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, with “stage” repeated, and some links between ideas are unclear. For example, “In the middle stage, the plastic pellets produced a raw meterial by a copper machine. Then heated the pellets…” makes the relationship between pellet production, heating and raw material difficult to follow. Paragraphing is present, but the process would be easier to track if each paragraph grouped connected stages and transitions explicitly showed how one output becomes the next input.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which allows you to describe several stages. However, the range and control are limited, and noticeable spelling and word-choice errors sometimes make the description harder to understand. Examples include “recucling,” “meterial,” “copper machine” and “organic metal”; the last two do not accurately name anything shown in the diagram. “Plastic container” is also repeated where “plastic bottles” or “plastic items” would be more precise. Aim to use accurate process vocabulary and check spelling, while varying repeated terms. More precise choices would make the account clearer without requiring unnecessarily advanced language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the overall sequence can usually be understood. However, some errors in sentence structure, verb forms, agreement and articles make several sentences awkward or incomplete. For instance, “Meanwhile, the procedure involved in nine different stages” lacks a finite verb, while “the truck go into recycling center” has incorrect verb agreement and article use. The passive voice is useful for this process, but forms such as “the plastic pellets produced a raw material” and “Then heated the pellets” are not consistently constructed. Practise complete passive clauses, such as “the pellets are heated,” and check that each sentence has a clear subject and verb. This would improve accuracy while retaining your attempts at varied structures.

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.