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 supplied flowchart illustrates a recycling technique used to valorize plastic waste into valuable products.

Overall, the process is comprised of 9 distinct stages initiating with collection of plastic bottles and ending at synthesized useful products.

The procedure begins with a segregation of plastic wastes into recycle bins, followed by their transportation to the recycling centers. This action is carried out by various garbage collecting trucks. After the plastic waste has been collected at recycling centers, an employee sort out the recyclable plastic from non-recyclable ones. Later on, the selected plastic litter is compressed into a huge cube that will be subjected to a crusher. The crusher breaks down the compressed cube into smaller particles which are then washed and transformed into pallets. Afterwards, these pallets are heated to form raw material for making products. finally, the raw material is molded to obtained finalized items like shopping bags, pencils, clothing or plastic boxes. The obtained products are sold and again disposed off to recycle bins after use, this restarts the cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all stages of the recycling process, from collection to the creation of new products. You have identified the main features and provided a clear overview of the cycle. The information is accurate and logically presented. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the cyclical nature of the process in the overview, as you did in the final sentence, to better highlight the 'main features' of the diagram. The description is well-balanced, and you have effectively summarized the progression of the plastic through the various stages without unnecessary repetition.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph detailing the process, and a concluding summary of the cycle. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'The procedure begins with', 'After', 'Later on', 'Afterwards', and 'finally' to guide the reader through the sequence. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is smooth. While the transition between the final product and the restart of the cycle is clear, ensure that your referencing remains precise throughout to maintain the high level of flow achieved here.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a process description, such as 'segregation', 'compressed', 'transformed', and 'molded'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'valorize' (which is less common in this context) and 'disposed off' (the correct phrasal verb is 'disposed of'). However, these errors do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical collocations related to industrial processes to demonstrate a more sophisticated range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'an employee sort out' (should be 'sorts out') and 'molded to obtained' (should be 'molded to obtain'). Additionally, 'disposed off' contains a minor error. Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the majority of your sentences are clear and error-free. The use of passive voice, which is essential for process descriptions, is generally well-handled. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and infinitive forms will help you achieve greater accuracy in future tasks.

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