Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-04

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 recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, it is a cyclical process involving nine stages. The process begins with the collection of used bottles and ends with the production of the final products that will be collected again for recycling after use.

Initially, the used bottles are picked, assembled and later transported by trucks to the recycling center for sorting. After being sorted, they are compressed into large blocks which will be crushed later. In the penultimate stage, the blocks are crushed into smaller particles, washed and then used to produce the plastic pellets.

After that, the plastic pellets are heated to form the raw materials. These raw materials are rolled into cylindrical shapes for easy storage are transportation. Finally, they will be used to produce the end products such as bottles, shirts and bags. After this products have been used by the consumers, they will be recollected again for the recycling process.

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 of the cyclical nature of the system. You have covered all parts of the prompt, including the collection, processing, and final product stages. The information is logically sequenced, and you have made a good attempt to summarize the process rather than just listing steps. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly highlight the most significant features or comparisons, such as the transition from raw materials to finished goods, to provide a more analytical summary rather than a purely descriptive one.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph describing the process, and a concluding sentence. You use cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After that', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the stages. However, the paragraphing is somewhat limited; the entire process description is contained within one block. Breaking this into two distinct paragraphs—perhaps separating the collection/sorting phase from the manufacturing/recycling phase—would improve the flow and structure of your writing, making it easier to follow the progression of the cycle.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cyclical', 'penultimate', and 'recollected'. The language is generally precise enough to convey the process clearly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'assembled' (which is usually for parts of a machine rather than bottles) and 'are transportation' (a grammatical error affecting lexical flow). To improve, try to incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'shredded' instead of 'crushed' or 'converted' instead of 'used to produce'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'After this products have been used' (should be 'these products') and the phrase 'storage are transportation' which lacks a conjunction or preposition. Additionally, 'the used bottles are picked' is slightly awkward; 'collected' is more natural. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles will help improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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