Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-02

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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the way in which methods are used for recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, the process consists of nine stages, starting with the waste bottles and ending with new products.

First of all, people throw raw materials of plastic bottles into the dustbin. After that, when the dustbin fill with bottles, rather than, the truck comes and picked up the dustbin. Truck goes to recycling center then, employees are sorted out the bottle. Next, they sent it to compress machine for compressed into blocks.

In the next stage, compressed blocks sent it for crushed into small pieces then, they sent it into water tub for washing. Following this, after wash sent it into machine for manufactured plastic pellets. Next, they gives heat to plastic pellets. Heating pellets to from raw material. Subsequently, they gives a shape into round blocks from raw material. Finally, they made products for example (pencils, shopping bags, plastic box, and also made new bottles) from raw materials

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the creation of new products. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the transformation process. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the technical steps (such as the transition from pellets to raw material) is slightly confusing and lacks the precision required for a higher band. The response addresses the prompt, but the development of the information is limited by the repetitive structure and the lack of clear, comparative language.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or mechanical, such as the frequent use of 'Next' and 'After that'. Some transitions are awkward, such as 'rather than, the truck comes', which disrupts the flow of information. The logical progression is present, but the lack of varied linking words and the somewhat disjointed sentence structure prevent the response from achieving a higher score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There is a reliance on simple verbs like 'throw', 'sent', and 'made', which limits the precision of the description. Some word choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as 'compress machine' instead of 'compactor' or 'crushed into small pieces' (which is acceptable but could be more sophisticated). There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise technical terminology related to industrial processes, which is expected for an Academic Task 1 response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with verb tense consistency and subject-verb agreement, such as 'when the dustbin fill with bottles' and 'they gives heat'. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex constructions often result in errors, such as 'compressed blocks sent it for crushed'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of parentheses and commas. A wider range of error-free complex structures is needed to reach a higher band.

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