Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-24

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 6.5)

The figure illustrates the process how plastic bottles are recycled .

Overall, it is a linear segmental process which started from collecting empty bottles from garbage and ends on making new products from these plastic bottles.

In the first stages, the plastic bottles which are not useful anymore are collected from dustbin and transported to the factory for sorting . Under heavy machinery , these bottles are compressed to convert them into blocks . Furthermore, these blocks are crushed and then converted into small pieces.

Following this, these crushed pieces are sent to a machine where plastic pellets are produced. plastic pellets are subjected to heat to form the raw material. Moreover, raw material is ready after being heated. In the final stage, this raw material is used in many ways like in production of pencils, clothes, and plastic bottles and many more.

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, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the overview is present, the description of the process is somewhat brief and lacks the level of detail required for a higher band. To improve, you should expand on the descriptions of the machinery and the transformation stages, ensuring you meet the length requirement to fully develop your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In the first stages', 'Furthermore', and 'Following this' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the response is presented as a single block of text. To achieve a higher band, you should organize your ideas into distinct paragraphs—for example, one for the initial collection and sorting, and another for the processing and final output stages—to improve the overall flow and structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'compressed', 'transported', and 'raw material' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'linear segmental process', which is not a natural collocation in this context. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to industrial processes and avoid repeating words like 'bottles' and 'plastic' too frequently by using synonyms or referencing pronouns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the process how plastic bottles are recycled' (should be 'the process of how...'), 'started from collecting' (should be 'starts with collecting'), and 'ends on making' (should be 'ends with making'). Additionally, there are some punctuation and capitalization inconsistencies, such as the space before the period in the first sentence. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.