Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-30

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 given diagram shows how plastic used for domestic purposes is recycled. The process starts with us, the consumers. We have to segregate our domestic waste into 2 different kinds of waste which are biodegradable waste and non-biodegradable waste. Biodegradable waste consists of food waste, vegetable & fruit peels, paper etc and non-biodegradable waste contains plastic. After separating the plastic waste, it is collected by the municipal corporation and is sent to a recycling centre.

At the recycling centre, the waste is sorted into categories, bottles, caps, wrappers etc. Once the plastic junk is sorted, it is compressed into blocks. This plastic blocks are then crushed using mechanical crushing wheels so that large pieces of plastic gets broken down into smaller pieces of plastic. These small pieces are then washed and dried.

After these small pieces have dried, more small pieces of plastic are made. These pieces of plastic are called plastic pellets. These pellets are used to make raw material. Pellets are heated to form raw material. The plastic raw material formed is then used to make plastic domestic articles. These articles are used and they enter this recycling cycle again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main stages of the recycling process. However, the response focuses heavily on the initial domestic segregation, which is not the primary focus of a technical process diagram. To improve, ensure you focus more on the mechanical and chemical transformations shown in the diagram. You have included all key stages, but the description of the 'raw material' phase is slightly vague. To reach a higher band, ensure you clearly link the stages together as a continuous cycle, highlighting the transition from waste to new products more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs that follow the chronological flow of the process. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'At the recycling centre', 'Once', and 'After these small pieces have dried' to guide the reader. However, the flow is somewhat mechanical, and the transition between the domestic phase and the industrial phase could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that summarizes the stage being described.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'segregate', 'biodegradable', 'compressed', and 'mechanical crushing wheels'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'plastic junk' which is too informal for an Academic Task 1 response. Additionally, the repetition of 'small pieces of plastic' makes the writing feel slightly simplistic. To improve, use more precise terminology for industrial processes and avoid repeating the same phrases by using synonyms or pronouns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical errors, such as 'This plastic blocks are' (should be 'These plastic blocks are') and 'large pieces of plastic gets broken' (should be 'get broken'). Punctuation is generally accurate, but there is a lack of more sophisticated complex structures that would elevate the score. Focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and incorporating a wider variety of passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing processes.

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