Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-13

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 illustration shows the steps involved in the process of recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, there are nine stages to recycle waste plastic material, from collection of plastic bottles to make the valuable end products.

To begin, plastic bottles are collected in bins labeled with recycling logo and designated specifically for collection of plastic materials. The waste plastic bottles are transported to recycling centre via waste transporting vehicle, where they are sorted based on their material types, to ensure they could be recycled. Next, the sorted plastic bottles are compressed into blocks to remove air and reduce their volume. Following, the blocks are crushed by machines into smaller pieces, soaked into water, and washed properly to remove dust particles. In the next stage, plastic chunks are accumulated to make pellets, that can be heated at high temperature to form plastic raw materials. These raw materials are transformed into plastic blocks which can then be used to produce new products like plastic containers, pencils, polythene bags, bottles, or clothing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the recycling process. You have provided a clear overview and followed the sequence logically from collection to the creation of end products. The inclusion of specific details, such as the compression and washing stages, demonstrates a good understanding of the diagram. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly highlight the most significant comparisons or features, such as the transformation from waste to raw material, rather than just listing the steps. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph detailing the process, and a concluding summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin', 'Next', 'Following', and 'In the next stage' to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow could be improved by varying the sentence structure more effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the progression of ideas is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transported', 'compressed', 'accumulated', and 'transformed'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'recycling logo' (should be 'a recycling logo') and 'recycling centre' (should be 'a recycling centre'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. Expanding your range of topic-specific collocations would enhance your performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the majority of sentences are clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as missing articles ('to recycling centre', 'at high temperature') and minor punctuation errors. The sentence 'Next, the sorted plastic bottles are compressed into blocks to remove air and reduce their volume' is well-constructed. To improve, focus on article usage and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement. The errors present do not impede communication, but they do limit the score in this criterion.

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

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