Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 illustrates the process of how plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, the process includes seven distinct steps. It starts with throwing used plastic bottles in garbage bins, and then collecting by trucks. However, this process ends with manufacturing of various products.

Initially, all the used plastic bottles are thrown in large bins, then these bottles are collected by garbage trucks. The third step starts with sending all bottles to recycling center where they gather good and bad bottles into a separate containers. In addition, the fourth step undergoes a compressing where bottles are compressed into blocks.

Subsequently, the fifth step is crushing, bottles are crushed by big wheels and add into a water container for washing. Meanwhile, plastic pellets are produced by a machine in sixth step. Then heating process of pellets occurs that change into raw materials .

The eighth step starts with production of raw materials that change into different end products such as pencils, shirts and many other things. This is the last step where all new products are made by plastic bottles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the recycling process, from collection to the production of new items. The overview is clear, identifying the seven-step nature of the process. However, there is a minor inaccuracy in the description of the steps; the text mentions an 'eighth step' despite the introduction stating there are seven. Additionally, the description of the process could be more analytical by grouping stages more effectively rather than listing them sequentially. While the main features are reported, the connection between the raw materials and the final products could be more explicitly linked to the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Subsequently', and 'Meanwhile' are used to link the stages of the process. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive (e.g., starting multiple sentences with 'the... step'). Paragraphing is used, but the internal structure of the second body paragraph is somewhat dense. Improving the variety of cohesive links would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the process clearly. Words like 'compressed', 'crushed', and 'manufacturing' are used appropriately. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some awkward collocations, such as 'gather good and bad bottles into a separate containers' (should be 'separate containers') and 'add into a water container' (should be 'added'). There is also some repetition of basic verbs like 'change' and 'make'. Using more precise terminology for industrial processes would elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'collecting by trucks' should be 'collection by trucks' or 'being collected by trucks'. There are also issues with articles and prepositions, such as 'in sixth step' (should be 'in the sixth step') and 'heating process of pellets occurs that change' (should be 'which changes'). These errors occur frequently but do not significantly impede communication. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage would improve accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.