Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-10

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 6.0)

The given diagram illustrate the whole process for recycling the bottles, made up of plastic.

Overall, plastic bottles are recycled after passing through nine step such as collecting,compressing, heating and producing new products including stationary and utensils.

People used bottle for drinking purposes and throw them into the garbage and bins. Firstly, these bottles loaded into the large vehicles such as truck and transfer them to the recycling factories. Secondly, the workers sort them on the base of quality and variety, then collect them into a huge container. These bottles are then compressed down into a large size blocks.

By following this, blocks of bottles are then crushed with the help of cutters and washed. The washed particles of plastic are thrown into a machine where plastic pellets are formed and heated them after coming out of machine. The raw material is made from heated particles and different products such as shirts, bottles and pencils are produced as a result of recycling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from disposal and collection through sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and the creation of new products. The overview also identifies the process as having nine stages and notes its end products, giving the reader a useful summary. However, some details are incomplete or not fully supported by the diagram: sorting is shown as separating acceptable bottles from rejected items, rather than sorting by “quality and variety,” and the raw material stage is not clearly described as a distinct step before products are made. The overview could also highlight the key feature that the process forms a closed loop, with products returning to consumer use. These omissions and imprecisions limit the completeness of the account, although the central process is clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear overall sequence, with an overview followed by two paragraphs describing the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “By following this” help the reader follow the process, and the progression from collection to finished products is generally logical. To make the organisation more effective, use transitions that describe the actual links between stages rather than relying mainly on numbered sequencing. For example, the final paragraph could distinguish the washing, pellet-making, heating and raw-material stages more clearly. Some references, such as “them” and “these bottles,” are not always precise, and the missing return from end products to the start means the cycle is not fully connected in the account.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “washed,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” which allows you to describe most stages clearly. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “recycling factories” and “large vehicles.” However, some choices are inaccurate or imprecise for this diagram: “garbage” suggests general waste rather than a recycling bin, “cutters” does not accurately describe the crushing equipment, and “stationary and utensils” does not match the products shown. “Huge container” is also less precise than the diagram’s description of blocks. Aim for accurate process terms and check spelling and word forms; this would make the vocabulary more precise and natural without needing unnecessarily elaborate language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “where” and “after,” and the main stages are usually understandable. However, some errors in sentence structure, agreement and verb forms remain. For example, “The given diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “Overall, plastic bottles are recycled after passing through nine step” has an incorrect plural form. In “The washed particles … are thrown into a machine where plastic pellets are formed and heated them,” the verb construction is faulty and makes the relationship between the pellets and heating unclear. The opening sentence also has an awkward participle construction. Review agreement, articles and plural endings, and make sure each clause has a complete, correctly formed verb. More consistently accurate complex sentences would strengthen control.

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