Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-07

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 diagram demonstrates the procedure of recycling plastic bottles.

Overall, this process contains nine stages, starting from collecting the bottles from waste bins, producing raw materials and finally making products like plastic bags and clothes.

Initially, used plastic items are placed in a recycling bins by consumers. These recycling bins are carried by trucks and transported to the recycling center. These recycling bottles are sorted manually and unsuitable material being removed. However, the subsequently sorted bottles transferred to a large compression block and then those material washed thoroughly to removed the wasteful products. Those material washed thoroughly throughout the process to form plastic pellets.

Plastic pellets are heated to form raw material by removing the impurity to form raw material. Consequently, raw materials used to form various items like plastic bags, different type of clothes, plastic disposable bottles and cans, and to form various type of stationary items by used efficient products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of final goods. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, logical flow in the latter stages. While the overview identifies the number of stages, it does not fully synthesize the process, and some details are slightly inaccurate or confusing, such as the description of 'compression blocks' and the redundant mention of washing. To improve, ensure that each step of the diagram is clearly linked to the next without repeating information, and focus on providing a more precise summary of the transformation from raw material to finished products.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'Initially', 'However', 'Consequently'), they are sometimes used incorrectly or in a way that creates confusion. For instance, the transition between the sorting process and the compression stage is clunky. The referencing is also slightly unclear at times, particularly with the use of 'those material' and 'these recycling bottles'. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would help the information flow more naturally and logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'recycling bins are carried by trucks' (should be 'collected') and 'wasteful products' (likely meant 'waste materials'). The repetition of 'form' and 'raw material' limits the lexical range. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'processed', 'converted', 'shredded', or 'manufactured', and avoid repeating the same basic verbs throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('unsuitable material being removed', 'those material washed'), incorrect pluralization ('recycling bins' vs 'a recycling bin'), and awkward passive voice constructions. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure often feels repetitive. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and ensuring that passive voice constructions are used accurately, as they are essential for describing processes.

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

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