Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The given flow diagram illustrates the cyclic process of recycling plastic and converting it into useful products, which after use are discarded and cyclic is repeated again.

Overall, this process consists of several steps which starts with collection of discarded plastic, after passing through several steps of processing suitable materials are obtained which are in turn used to create different end products.

The recycling process starts with collection of discarded plastic bottles by garbage truck to be transported to recycling centre. At the recycling centre, bottles are sorted into recyclable and non recyclable categories, and then compressed into a blocks in order to proceed to crushing. The process of crushing converts compressed blocks into small pieces which are then washed before producing plastic pellets. The pellets are then heated to form raw material which is stored in blocks before creating end products. The end products after use are discarded again which re-initiates the recycling process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the recycling process. You have provided a clear overview and followed the sequence of the diagram logically. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly mention all key stages shown in the diagram, such as the specific role of the 'garbage truck' or the 'raw material' storage phase, with more detail. While you have covered the process, the description could be slightly more analytical by highlighting the transition points between the stages more clearly. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraph. The progression of ideas follows the flow of the diagram effectively. You have used some cohesive devices, such as 'The recycling process starts with' and 'The pellets are then', which help the reader follow the sequence. To improve, try to vary your linking words further to avoid repetitive sentence structures. Ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus; currently, the transition between the overview and the detailed body paragraph is smooth, but the cohesion could be enhanced with more sophisticated referencing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'cyclic', 'discarded', 'compressed', and 're-initiates'. These terms are appropriate for a process description. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'into a blocks' (should be 'into blocks') and 'cyclic is repeated' (should be 'the cycle is repeated'). To achieve a higher band, aim to incorporate more precise collocations and ensure articles are used correctly. Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophisticated control seen in higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'which starts with collection' (missing an article: 'the collection') and 'compressed into a blocks' (incorrect pluralization). Additionally, 'which are in turn used' is a good attempt at a complex structure. To improve, focus on article usage and subject-verb agreement. The majority of your sentences are clear, but more consistent control over complex grammatical forms would elevate your score.

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