Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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 given process diagram illustrates the process for recycling plastic bottles. Overall the whole process consists of 9 distinct stages. Beginning with the collection of plastic bottles and ending with the producing end products.

In the initial stages, the plastic bottles are collected by the individual from the recycling bin prior to being loaded into specialized loaded truck. After transportation the recycling centre separated this plastic waste. In the forth stage, plastic bottles are compressed into blocks and crush into small pieces and washed.

The subsequent sixth stage, the pieces of plastic are first poured into a machine then turn them into small pellets. These pellets are heated and form a raw material that can be used into manufacture of products ranging from clothes and bottles to containers and pencils. These items are themselves recycled and the process begins again.

In an overview, the plastic is required as raw material which passes to various form of treatment before finally it is a final clothing products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. The overview is clear, identifying the nine stages and the cyclical nature of the process. However, the description of the stages is somewhat mechanical and lacks a cohesive comparison or synthesis of the key features. While the main steps are identified, the response could be improved by grouping the stages more effectively to highlight the transformation process, rather than simply listing them sequentially. The conclusion is slightly redundant as it repeats information already provided in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding overview. The progression of ideas is generally clear, following the chronological order of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stages', 'After transportation', and 'The subsequent sixth stage' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive or mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different phases of the process, which helps the reader navigate the information. Referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the final two paragraphs could be smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'specialized', 'compressed', 'manufacture', and 'raw material' used correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'producing end products' (should be 'production of end products') and 'forth stage' (should be 'fourth stage'). The range is sufficient to describe the process, but there is limited use of less common or more sophisticated vocabulary that would elevate the response to a higher band. The repetition of 'plastic' and 'process' suggests a need for more varied synonyms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'the recycling centre separated this plastic waste' (should be 'separates'), 'crush into small pieces' (should be 'crushed'), and 'used into manufacture' (should be 'used in the manufacture'). There are also issues with article usage and verb tense consistency. Despite these errors, the communication is not significantly impeded, and the reader can follow the process without difficulty. More attention to subject-verb agreement and preposition usage would improve the accuracy.

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