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 diagram illustrates the process for plastic bottles recycling. Overall, this bottle recycling process consists of 9 steps starting at throwing the bottle into recycle bin and end at making finishing products.

To begin with, the process at first bottle is throwed in the recycle bin.Then recycling wan comes bottles and other recycling material is collected in recycling wan.After that recycling wan drops the recycling material to recycling centre for sorting the bottles.

After sorting process, it is compressed into blocks and following this it goes through the crushing process and when its get crushed it is in washing process. Following the next step, when it gets washed. Then it goes through the machine for producing plastic pellets. After that, the pallets is heated to form raw material and when raw material is made.Then this raw material is used to produce ending products like t-shirts, pencil, plastic bags and many other plastic products like school lunch box and also bottles etc.

This is the total process of bottle recycling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a nine-step recycling process and give a clear overall summary, from placing bottles in a bin to producing finished goods. Most of the main stages are included in the correct order: collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating, and making products. The examples of end products also broadly match the diagram. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the collection truck is described as collecting “other recycling material,” while the diagram shows it transporting bottles, and the sorting stage’s separation into accepted and rejected items is not explained. The overview could also highlight the key transformation from discarded bottles into raw material and then new products. More precise coverage of these features would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by the stages in sequence, then a brief closing sentence. Connectors such as “To begin with,” “After that,” and “Following the next step” help the reader follow the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, with repeated sequencing phrases and several abrupt or incomplete transitions, particularly “Following the next step, when it gets washed. Then it goes through the machine.” The reference in “it is compressed” is also not fully clear. Grouping the stages into smoother sentences and using clearer references to bottles, plastic, pellets, and raw material would improve progression while preserving the logical order.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressed,” “crushing,” “plastic pellets,” and “raw material,” which allows the main stages to be understood. There is also an attempt to describe the final products with examples. However, several word choices and forms are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “recycling wan,” “throwed,” “pallets” for pellets, and “ending products.” Repetition of “process,” “recycling,” and “after that” also limits flexibility. Choose precise terms from the diagram and check spelling carefully; for example, use “collection truck,” “pellets,” and “finished products.” A broader range of accurate verbs such as “transported,” “sorted,” and “converted” would make the account more fluent and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and longer clauses, including “After sorting process, it is compressed into blocks and following this it goes through the crushing process.” This shows some range, and the overall sequence can generally be understood. However, errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries are noticeable. Examples include “bottle is throwed,” “when its get crushed,” and “the pallets is heated.” Some sentences are also incomplete or awkwardly joined, as in “Following the next step, when it gets washed. Then it goes through the machine.” Use passive forms consistently for this process (“bottles are collected,” “the plastic is crushed”) and check subject–verb agreement and punctuation. More accurate control of these patterns would strengthen the description.

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