Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

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 7.0)

The diagram illustrates a cyclical step-by-step process of how plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, the recycling process undergo nine stages and restarts with disposal collections via dedicated trucks. The major stages include collecting, sorting, crushing, processing and manufacturing of various goods.

The process starts with people disposing the used plastic bottles in recycle bins, from where trucks collect them to sent them to a recycling centre for sorting. In the facility, the recyclable bottles are selected and others are removed. This is mainly done manually unlike the following stages. Subsequently, the selected bottles are compressed into large blocks before proceeding to the crushing phase. Here, the blocks are crushed into pieces and washed properly in water to remove any impurities.

In the following stages, the plastic ferments are processed via machine to produce plastic pellets. These pellets are then heated to form raw material which are stored for further manufacturing stages. Finally, these raw materials are sent to production facilities to produce products such as plastic bottles, food containers, reusable bags, stationeries and clothing. However, the process for recycling plastic bottles does not end here. It starts again from the stage one and continues to create a sustainable environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all stages of the recycling process, from collection to the final manufacturing of new products. You have identified the main features and provided a clear overview in the introduction. The information is logically sequenced, and you have successfully highlighted the transition from manual sorting to machine-based processing. To reach a higher band, ensure that you avoid minor inaccuracies, such as stating the process 'restarts' at stage one, as the diagram depicts a linear flow that results in new products rather than a literal loop of the same bottles. Overall, the response is well-developed and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed process description. Cohesive devices such as 'In the following stages,' 'Subsequently,' and 'Finally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the steps. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is smooth. There is a minor issue with the concluding sentence, which feels slightly repetitive, but this does not detract from the overall coherence of the response. The structure is clear and easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'cyclical,' 'impurities,' 'compressed,' and 'sustainable.' There are some minor word-choice errors, such as 'plastic ferments' (likely meant 'fragments') and 'stationeries' (which is an uncountable noun). Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the vocabulary is precise enough to convey the technical nature of the process clearly. You demonstrate a good awareness of style, and the language used is appropriate for an academic report. Expanding your range of collocations would help move toward a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used passive voice effectively, which is appropriate for describing a process (e.g., 'bottles are selected,' 'are compressed'). There are a few grammatical slips, such as 'process undergo' (should be 'undergoes') and 'to sent them' (should be 'to send them'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally sound. Continued focus on subject-verb agreement and infinitive forms will further improve your accuracy.

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