Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-28

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 8.0)

The diagram illustrates in a step-by-step manner as to how the recycling of plastic bottles occurs.

Overall, the process is cyclical and include different stakeholders ranging from individual consumers to big recycling industries.

At the beginning, many individuals put recyclable items such as plastic bottles in a designated bin. Once the bin gets filled, a dedicated truck collects all the bottles and transports them to a recycling centre. The first step in the centre is to sort whether a bottle meets the criteria for recycling or not. Sorting is done manually by a person. Thereafter, all the bottles which passed through sorting are then compressed into blocks before passing through a crusher which turns such blocks into small plastic shreds.

Washing comes next, where a special liquid is used to clean the shreds. Once cleaned they are passed through another big machinery to make pellets, which then undergoes heating to form raw material. Finally, that material is used in production of end products such as bags, cloths and containers, which are again used by consumers thereby restarting the cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully covers all stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection to the final production of new goods. You have clearly identified the main features and provided a logical summary of the cyclical nature of the process. The overview is concise and effectively sets the stage for the detailed description that follows. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the 'recycling centre' as a hub for the various stages, and perhaps highlight the transformation from waste to raw material more prominently. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt comprehensively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression from the beginning of the process to the end. You have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'At the beginning', 'Thereafter', 'Once cleaned', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the steps. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction and overview from the procedural details. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the different stages is easy to follow. To improve further, you could vary your linking phrases slightly more to avoid a repetitive structure, but the current level of cohesion is already quite strong.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'cyclical', 'stakeholders', 'designated bin', and 'raw material'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'big recycling industries' (which could be 'large-scale recycling facilities') and 'big machinery' (which is a bit vague). Focusing on more precise technical collocations will help elevate your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'include' instead of 'includes' in the second paragraph (referring to 'process'), and 'which undergoes' instead of 'which undergo' (referring to 'pellets'). Despite these occasional errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the punctuation is handled well. To achieve a higher band, ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text.

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