Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-03

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 is illustrates the process of recycling plastic bottles and producing new products.

Overall, it is the nine stage process which begins with collecting used plastic bottles and end with producing new items that can be recycled again.

Firstly people put plastic bottles into recycling bins,after that a collection truck Transfer them in to a recycle centre. Once there the bottles are sorted by workers Futhermore that can be reused,the blocks are crushed into a small pieces by a special machine and remove dirt and other unwanted materials. After that, the clean plastic pieces are proccessed by a machine to produce plastic pellects, this plastic pellects are the heated to a form of raw materials .on the other hand the raw materials are ready then they used to manufacture different products such as plastic bottles, T-shirt, bags , shoes etc, In the end some of the products can be used and recycled again so the process is continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages from putting bottles in bins through collection, sorting, processing and making new products, and your overview correctly identifies a cycle that returns to recycling. The reference to products such as bottles, a T-shirt and bags is also relevant. However, some stages are not reported accurately or clearly: the diagram shows suitable bottles being compressed into blocks before crushing, whereas your sentence says “the blocks are crushed” without explaining how they were formed. The sorting decision—some bottles being rejected—is also unclear in “that can be reused.” Shoes are not shown, and the washing stage is only indirectly described as removing dirt. A more precise account of sorting, compressing and washing would make the coverage more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the process in broadly the right order, and “Overall” and “Firstly” help signal the overview and sequence. However, nearly all the detailed stages are packed into one long paragraph, so the progression is difficult to follow. Several linking expressions are either mechanical or do not express the intended relationship: “Furthermore” does not fit the sorting point, while “on the other hand” introduces no contrast. The long chain of clauses after “Once there” also makes it hard to see where one stage ends and the next begins. Separate the overview from the process description, and use clear sequence markers such as “Next,” “After washing,” and “Finally,” with sentence breaks at each major stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling bins,” “collection truck,” “raw materials” and “manufacture,” which helps communicate the topic. There is some variety in describing the stages, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “recycle centre” is less suitable than “recycling centre,” and “a small pieces” does not express the intended meaning correctly. Spelling errors such as “proccessed” and “pellects” also reduce accuracy, while “new items” and “different products” are rather general. Aim for precise process terms and check spelling carefully; for example, distinguish “plastic pieces” from “plastic pellets” and use “end products” when describing the final stage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a relative clause in “products that can be recycled again,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, some errors in sentence construction and control make parts difficult to read. The opening, “The diagram is illustrates,” contains an unnecessary verb form, and “it is the nine stage process” needs a different article and plural form. In “this plastic pellects are the heated,” the demonstrative, agreement and passive construction are faulty. The final section also shifts between clauses without clear sentence boundaries. Use consistent passive forms for the process, check subject–verb agreement and articles, and divide long sentences into complete, punctuated units.

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