Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-25

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 7.0)

The diagram illustrates the process of how plastic bottles can be recycled.

Overall, it is inferred that there are total nine steps to complete the whole process, initializing with, collection of waste plastic bottles from dustbins and ends with the production of pens, pencils, lunch boxes, and cans.

To begin with, the collection of plastic bottles from the garbage, and transported by trucks to the recycling center. The third step is to make sorting between good and bad condition bottles. Afterwards, the bottles can be compressed and formed into shape of blocks.

Subsequently, the fifth step is to be crushing with two sharp blades and, the crushed substances will be washed with clean water to kill their impurities. In addition, after cleaning step, the materials can transferred into machines to producing plastic pallets, and heat for converted into raw material. In the final stage, with the help of raw material, the producers produced different kinds of things such as, plastic bottles, lunch boxes, and plastic bags.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the final production of new items. You provided a clear overview in the introduction, which is essential for Task 1. However, the response could be improved by ensuring all steps are described with equal clarity. For instance, the transition from 'raw material' to the final products is a bit vague. While you covered the main features, adding more precise comparisons or linking the stages more explicitly would help move this into a higher band. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay follows a logical progression, moving chronologically through the stages of the recycling process. You used some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'Afterwards,' and 'Subsequently' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more balanced. The final paragraph is quite dense compared to the others. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, which will help the flow of information feel more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'recycling center,' 'compressed,' and 'impurities.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'initializing with' (should be 'beginning with') and 'make sorting' (should be 'sort'). Additionally, the phrase 'heat for converted' is grammatically incorrect and lacks lexical precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder the flow. For example, 'the fifth step is to be crushing' should be 'the fifth step is crushing' or 'the fifth step involves crushing.' There are also issues with verb forms, such as 'the materials can transferred' (should be 'can be transferred') and 'producers produced' (tense inconsistency). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and passive voice construction will significantly improve your accuracy.

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