Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-23

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 diagram illustrates how recycling plastic bottles are process.

Overall, it shows that recycling plastic bottles undergoes dropping of disposed materials, while proceeding into different stages like compressing, crushing before turning into useful products.

The 1 stage show how a boy dropped disposed bottle into a cart, before a bus showed up at level 2 to load up to the next process at stage 3 which is recycling centre where it will be sorted out. At level 4, then processed into blocks for crushing which occurred in phase 5 before washing.

At level 6 the disposed bottles had been turned to plastic pellets to form raw material by hitting which surface in phase 7, then to raw material in phase 8, it then proceed to level 9 where it is finally processed to useful products like bag, clothes, pencils, takeaways and bottles which are the ending products for human usefulness.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and relies heavily on listing the stages (e.g., 'At level 4', 'At level 6') rather than synthesising the information into a cohesive report. While the key features are identified, the overview is quite basic and lacks a clear summary of the overall transformation process. To improve, focus on grouping the stages logically (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing) rather than simply narrating the diagram step-by-step. The response addresses the prompt, but the lack of analytical depth limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on phrases like 'At level X' or 'in phase Y'. This makes the flow feel disjointed rather than fluid. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'hitting which surface in phase 7', which creates confusion. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect the stages more naturally, and ensure that pronouns and references clearly point back to the previously mentioned items.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'recycling plastic bottles are process' and 'human usefulness'. The student relies on basic verbs like 'show', 'dropped', and 'turned to'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of more sophisticated or precise terminology (e.g., 'shredded', 'granulated', 'remanufactured') prevents a higher score. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and precise technical terms related to industrial processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'recycling plastic bottles are process' (subject-verb agreement), 'The 1 stage show' (article and verb usage), and 'it then proceed' (tense inconsistency). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent verb tenses when describing a process, and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy.

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