Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-02

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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates the steps involved in the recycling of plastic bottles.

Overall, it is evident that the process for recycling is a cyclical process that consist of nine distinctive stages which begins from dumping of plastic bottles into a waste can and it culminates at producing end products before the process starts again.

Regarding the first five stages, it started with discarding of plastics inside a rightfully waste can followed by moving the the can with a truck which will transport it to the next phase at the recycling center. At the recycling center sorting is carried out, this is where essential plastics are dropped into the marked part of the sorting container and unwanted materials are deposited at the second container. The next stage is where compressing of the plastics into blocks occurs followed by a stage where these blocks of plastic are crushed by a crushing machine. Meanwhile, the crushing machine pieced the plastics into a container with water for washing.

Turning to the last stages, at the sixth phase a machine will convert the washed tiny plastic particles into a plastic pellets and the plastic pellets undergoes heating in the next phase. However, during the heating stage the pellets binds together to form raw material. Furthermore, the raw material are packed together and finally these raw material are used to produce end products such as shirts, pens, bottles, takeaways and bags.

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 production of goods. The overview is clear and identifies the cyclical nature of the process. However, the description of the stages is sometimes slightly repetitive or lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the transition between the crushing and washing stages could be more concisely explained. While the main features are reported, the response would benefit from a more analytical approach to the process flow rather than just listing the steps sequentially. Overall, it provides a clear and accurate summary of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph for the first half of the process, and a second body paragraph for the final stages. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Regarding the first five stages', 'Meanwhile', and 'Turning to the last stages' helps guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'the the can' and 'the second container'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the distinct phases of the recycling cycle, contributing to a coherent overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'cyclical', 'culminates', 'compressed', and 'particles' used correctly. There are some instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'rightfully waste can' (likely meant 'designated waste bin') and 'pieced the plastics into a container'. The student attempts to use a range of vocabulary related to the process, but there are occasional inaccuracies in collocation. Despite these minor slips, the meaning is always clear, and the range is sufficient to describe the process effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('process... that consist', 'raw material are') and article misuse ('the the can'). Some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'the crushing machine pieced the plastics into a container with water for washing'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles and prepositions to improve the overall flow and accuracy of the writing.

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

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