Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-04

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)

How plastic bottles are recycled is fascinating and simple method with great number of advantages on the environment, this whole process begins with one easy step of throwing the plastic bottles in the litter box meant for the recyclable material. Later when the trash is picked up it is sorted ones again in the recycling center which is one of the most important tasks in the job since in all the prior steps the whole lot gets mixed into what's recyclable and what's not. once the sorting is done the bottles are compressed into big blocks which are later crushed and washed, these washed plastic pellets are then heated to form raw material with which end products are formed. These end products consist of a wide variety including but not limited to plastic bags, bottles, pencils, etc., completing the cycle of turning wasted plastic bottles into new useable materials required.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the creation of end products. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is a requirement for Task 1. The description is somewhat narrative rather than analytical, and it fails to highlight the cyclical nature of the process effectively. While all stages are mentioned, the lack of a distinct introduction and a clear summary paragraph limits the score. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview of the process in the introduction and structure the body paragraphs to reflect the logical flow of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is written as a single paragraph, which negatively impacts the logical flow and readability. While there is a basic chronological progression, the lack of paragraphing makes the text feel dense and difficult to navigate. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'later' and 'once', but they are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. To reach a higher band, you must use clear paragraphing to separate the different stages of the process (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing) and vary your cohesive devices to better connect ideas across sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'great number of advantages' and 'big blocks' are somewhat simplistic. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'litter box' (which usually refers to a pet's tray) instead of 'recycling bin'. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'compressed into bales' or 'raw material feedstock', and avoid informal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'is fascinating and simple method' is missing an article, and 'sorted ones again' contains a spelling error ('ones' instead of 'once'). Additionally, there are several comma splices, such as in the first sentence, where independent clauses are joined incorrectly. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently enough to impede the flow of the text. Focus on mastering basic sentence punctuation and article usage to improve accuracy.

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

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