Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28

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 7.5)

The diagram illustrates the nine-stage process of recycling plastic bottles, from initial disposal to the production of new items.

The process begins when a person places used plastic bottles into a recycling bin. These are then collected by a truck and taken to a recycling centre, where usable and unusable materials are sorted by hand on a conveyor belt. Suitable plastic is compressed into blocks, after which it undergoes crushing into smaller pieces. These pieces are washed to remove impurities before being processed into plastic pellets. In the next stage, the pellets are heated to form raw material.

Following this, the raw material is stored and later used to manufacture end products such as bottles, clothing, storage containers, bags, and pens. Overall, the process shows a clear cyclical pattern, with plastic bottles being transformed through several mechanical and chemical stages before becoming new consumer goods, thereby reducing waste and reliance on new raw materials.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively covers all stages of the recycling process, from the initial collection to the final manufacturing of new products. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear, logical summary of the nine-stage process. The overview provided in the final paragraph is particularly strong, as it synthesises the information well and highlights the cyclical nature of the process. The response is accurate and addresses all parts of the prompt without any significant omissions. To reach the highest band, you could further enhance the response by explicitly comparing the mechanical and chemical stages or highlighting the transition from raw material to specific consumer goods more descriptively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organised and follows a logical progression that mirrors the stages in the diagram. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'The process begins', 'Following this', and 'In the next stage', which guide the reader smoothly through the sequence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the body of the process, and the concluding summary. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive phrasing. The use of referencing is clear, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the transformation of the plastic at each step.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process accurately, including terms like 'compressed', 'impurities', 'cyclical pattern', and 'raw material'. The word choice is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a relatively standard range. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items related to industrial processes, such as 'reprocessed', 'subsequent', or 'transformed into a malleable state'. However, the current vocabulary is more than adequate for the task and demonstrates good control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the passive construction 'These are then collected by a truck' and the participial phrase 'thereby reducing waste and reliance on new raw materials'. The sentences are generally error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over complex structures is consistent, and there are no errors that impede communication. The writing is clear, professional, and demonstrates a high level of accuracy, which is characteristic of a strong performance in this criterion.

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

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