Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-27
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 diagram illustrates how plastic bottles are recycled.
Overall, it is man-made process. Process was consisted of nine steps for recycling bottles beginning with collect waste in the basket and ending with manufacturing final products.
To begin with, dustbins are collected waste from people. Once waste has been collected, truck is arrived at specific location for collecting waste from dustbin and also use for transportation of waste from different city's location to factory. Subsequently, in the factory or recycling centre, people check the waste and bottles are put on different basket for separation. After that, all bottles undergo into the compression process and make blocks.
In addition, blocks are crushed by crushing machine and crush material is directly put into water container mainly for washing. After this, washed material is added into machine which is produced plastic pellets then heat is given to the pellets for remove moisture content and it is produced raw material. At the last step, raw material is used for making wide range of products such as clothes, pencils, bags and boxes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers all stages of the recycling process, from collection to the final product. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a logical summary. However, the overview is slightly weak; stating it is a 'man-made process' is a bit generic. To improve, you should highlight the key stages more clearly in the introduction or overview, such as mentioning the transition from raw waste to processed material. The description of the steps is accurate, but some parts could be more concise to allow for a more sophisticated synthesis of the information provided in the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Subsequently', and 'After this' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by mechanical phrasing, such as 'truck is arrived' or 'all bottles undergo into'. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between sentences could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the progression between steps feels more natural rather than just a list of actions.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'compression', 'recycling centre', and 'moisture content'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'collect waste in the basket' (instead of 'bins') and 'crush material' (instead of 'crushed material'). Some phrasing is repetitive, and the use of 'make' or 'produced' is quite basic. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, and pay closer attention to word forms to ensure they fit the context of the sentence.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'Process was consisted of' (should be 'The process consists of'), 'truck is arrived' (should be 'the truck arrives'), and 'heat is given to the pellets for remove' (should be 'to remove'). There are also issues with article usage and verb tense consistency. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for process descriptions.
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