Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-31

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 the process of the recycling of the plastic bottles. The whole process is shown in the diagram which describes each detail of the process.

The following diagrams shows how the bottles are recycled. The whole cycle is described in nine steps which provide detail of each single detail of the recycling process.

In the first three steps of the process the plastic material is thrown in the dustbins. And then the garbage is collected by the trash cars from the trash bins. The trash is then taken to the recycling centre from where the sorting takes place.

In the next three steps the garbage is compressed into blocks so that after the compressing step crushing of the trash can take place. When the crushing is completed the material is then entered into the washing area, so that plastic pellets can be produced.

Whereas, after production the heating of pellets take place so that formation of the raw materials can occur .When raw materials are manufactured then the final step of production of end products take place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, but it lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole. While you have described the steps, the response is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the introduction where the same information is stated twice. To improve, you should provide a concise summary of the overall process in the introduction, highlighting the transformation from waste to end product. The description of the stages is accurate, but it would benefit from more precise terminology to describe the mechanical and chemical transformations shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In the first three steps', 'In the next three steps'). The transition between paragraphs is functional but lacks sophistication. The opening is particularly problematic as it repeats the same idea in two separate paragraphs, which disrupts the flow. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph serves a distinct purpose without redundancy.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive. Phrases like 'the process of' and 'the recycling process' are used frequently. There is an attempt to use technical terms such as 'compressed', 'crushing', and 'pellets', which is good. However, the range is limited, and some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'trash cars' (usually 'collection vehicles') and 'entered into the washing area'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes would significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the recycling of the plastic bottles' (the article 'the' is unnecessary here) and 'heating of pellets take place' (subject-verb agreement error: 'takes place'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings like 'the formation of the raw materials can occur'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher band.

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