Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17

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 flowchart illustrates the process of recycling plastic bottles. Overall, The process goes through 9 procedures namely Dumping garbage, collecting garbage, sorting, compressing into blocks, crushing and washing, producing pellets, forming raw materials, packaging and the last one producing products.

In the initial stage, the plastic bottles from public is dumped into recycling bins before being collected by the garbage trucks which has a separate compartment for this plastic bottles. Further, the truck delivers it to the recycling centre for sorting of the bottles on a conveyer belt to remove any unsuitable items. The sorted bottles are then compressed into blocks for better handling. Then the blocks are crushed in a crushing machine into tiny particles.

Following the crushing, the plastic particles are then washed and processed to produced plastic pellets. In the seventh step, the raw materials are heated to from uniform plastic pellets, which is the packed into bags and stack into bulk packages. Finally, the raw material is ready to be distributed to produce products from it like pencils, bottles, food containers and reusable bags. which are all recyclable again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection to the final product distribution. You have identified the main features and provided a clear, logical summary of the flowchart. The overview is effective, though it lists the steps rather than highlighting the broader stages of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure you group the steps into logical phases (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing) rather than just listing them sequentially. The information is accurate and well-presented, meeting the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression from the beginning to the end of the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the process. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Following the crushing', and 'Finally', which help the reader follow the sequence of events. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary the sentence structure further to create a more natural flow between the steps, rather than relying solely on time-based connectors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'conveyer belt', 'compressed', 'particles', and 'pellets' correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'from public' (should be 'from the public') and 'to produced' (should be 'to produce'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Incorporating more precise verbs and collocations related to industrial processes would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly distract from the flow, such as 'trucks which has' (subject-verb agreement error: should be 'have'), 'to from' (should be 'to form'), and 'which is the packed' (should be 'which are then packed'). Additionally, there are some punctuation issues, such as the sentence fragment starting with 'which are all recyclable again.' Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not impede communication. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for small typos will help improve your accuracy.

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