Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-21

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 recycling process of plastic bottles.

Overall, this process involves nine disnict steps, beginning with dumping rubbish into a trash bin and ending with manufacturing products such as t-shirts, pencils and bottles.

Initially, people throw garbage into the trash bin which is then collected by a truck. Afterwards, the trash goes to a recycling centre to sort recyclable wastes. In the following stage, after sorting all plastic bottless, it is then ready for compressing them into blocks. This blocks goes into a crushing machinery to make small pieces. Later, this pieces goes into a washing process to prepare for the next stage.

Next stage involves the washed plastics, which uses a machinery indicated for producing plastic pellets. Then, the pellets are heated to form raw material. After finally producing raw materials, those are used for making new products such as t-shirts, container, pencils or recycled bags. This process continues to cycle by people throwing away the recycled products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection to the final manufacturing of new products. The overview is clear and identifies the main features of the process. However, the description of the steps is somewhat mechanical and lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the information. For instance, while the sequence is accurate, the response could be improved by grouping related stages more effectively to demonstrate a better understanding of the process flow. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, and the main features are clearly reported.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Afterwards', 'In the following stage', and 'Next stage' helps to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive or mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different phases of the recycling cycle. While the progression is clear, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and referencing to avoid repetitive structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the process clearly. There are some spelling errors, such as 'disnict' (distinct) and 'bottless' (bottles), and minor grammatical slips in word forms like 'this pieces' (these pieces). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Using more specific terminology related to industrial processes would enhance the quality of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and pluralization, such as 'This blocks goes' (These blocks go) and 'this pieces goes' (these pieces go). While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly impede communication. The control over punctuation is generally good, but the frequent errors in basic grammar prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Increasing the accuracy of plural forms and demonstrative pronouns would be a key area for improvement.

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

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