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 PICTORIAL DEPICTS THE PROCESS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES RECYCLING.

OVERALL,PLASTIC BOTTLE RECYCLING PROCESS CONTAINS 9 STAGES TO COMPLETE AND PRODUCE DAILY USABLE PRODUCTS. MEANWHILE, IT IS A CIRCULAR PROCESS.

TO BEGIN WITH,THE GARBAGE TRUCK COLLECTS THE NUMEROUS PLASTIC BOTTLES FROM THE TRASH BAG. FURTHERMORE,TRUCK DELIVERS THE PLASTIC BOTTLES TO A RECYCLING CENTRE. RECYCLING CENTER PERFORMS THE SORTING METHOD TO SEPARATE THE RECYCLE AND NON-RECYCLE PLASTIC BOTTLES. MOREOVER,THESE RECYCLABLE BOTTLES ARE FURTHER COMPRESSED INTO BLOCKS.IN THE NEXT STEP, THE BLOCKS PASSES THROUGH CRUSHING MACHINE. THEN, THE CRUSHED PARTICLES SEND DIRECTLY INTO THE WATER CONTAINER FOR WASHING.

IN ADDITION, THE WASHED PLASTIC PELLETS GO INTO A FURNACE.THIS FURNACE HEAT THE MATERIAL AT HIGHEST DEGREE TO MAKE RAW MATERIAL. FINALLY, THESE RAW MATERIALS ARE CONVERTED INTO NUMEROUS PRODUCTS SUCH AS T-SHIRTS, PENCILS, SHOPPING BAGS, WATER BOTTLES, FORKS, SPOONS AND LUNCH BOXES. WHILE, THESE PRODUCTS AFTER USAGE BECOME TRASH AND THIS PROCESS AGAIN BEING REPEATED.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the recycling process and provides a clear overview. You have covered all key steps from collection to the production of new items. However, the report could be improved by providing more precise comparisons or highlighting the transformation of the material more effectively. The summary is accurate, but it lacks a slightly more analytical tone required for a Band 7+ response. You have successfully identified the circular nature of the process, which is a key feature of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition'. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The use of punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with spacing after commas (e.g., 'OVERALL,PLASTIC'), which affects the flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent spacing would elevate the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'recycling centre', 'compressed', 'particles', and 'furnace'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'sorting method' instead of 'sorting process' or 'daily usable products'. The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, but it lacks the more sophisticated or precise collocations that would be expected at a higher band level. The use of all-caps also makes the text difficult to read and is not appropriate for formal writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the blocks passes', 'furnace heat the material') and missing articles ('the recycling centre', 'a crushing machine'). Punctuation is also a significant issue, with missing spaces after commas and periods throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammar and punctuation will significantly improve your score.

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