Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-06

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 illustrated diagram shows the entire process of recycling plastic bottles. This process consists of nine stages, starting with the collection of plastic bottles and ending up with the production of new products.

Initially, plastic bottles from recycling bins and general trash are separated and are taken to a recycling centre. Once it reaches the recycling center workers carefully re-check if any other items except for the bottles to ensure nothing except for the plastic bottles move forward. In addition, workers also remove any labels or dirt and clean the bottles after which they are broken down into smaller pieces which are easier to handle. The plastic is then turned into pellets which are heated and moulded into blocks of raw material. These blocks of raw plastic are further pressed into smaller cubes and are ready to be transported. Furthermore, at last the raw material is used to manufacture new products like bottles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the manufacturing of new products. However, the description is somewhat generic and lacks a clear overview or summary of the key features, such as the cyclical nature of the process. While the stages are identified, the response could be improved by highlighting the transformation of materials more explicitly. The information is accurate based on the diagram, but the lack of a distinct overview paragraph means the response does not fully meet the requirements for a higher band, as it focuses more on listing steps than synthesizing the information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. Paragraphing is used, though the second paragraph is quite long and could have been split to improve readability. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is clear, and the reader can easily follow the steps of the recycling process. To reach a higher band, more sophisticated referencing and a wider variety of cohesive devices would be beneficial to ensure the flow is more natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'recycling centre', 'moulded', and 'raw material' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is some repetition of basic words like 'bottles' and 'plastic'. The phrasing is functional but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. For instance, 'broken down into smaller pieces' is clear but could be replaced with more technical terminology. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary used does not impede communication, but it does not demonstrate a wide or flexible range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'Once it reaches the recycling center workers carefully re-check if any other items except for the bottles to ensure nothing except for the plastic bottles move forward.' This sentence is clunky and contains a redundancy ('nothing except for'). Another error is 'at last the raw material is used', which is slightly unnatural. While the meaning is generally clear, the control over complex structures is inconsistent, and the punctuation could be more precise to improve the flow of the text.

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

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