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 provided picture depicts the recycling process of plastic bottles. Overall, the recycling process consists of 9 main stages which start from the plastic bottles collection from dustbins and ends with the production of items used on daily basis.

In the first stage, the used plastic bottles are collected in garbage bins, followed by the transport of garbage and plastic bottles by vehicles to the recycling center. The old plastic bottles are aligned in a regular manner and are transferred into the compressing machine which subsequently presses the bottles and gives the bottle a block shape. In the next step, blocks are passed through large crushing machines, and the small plastic pieces are formed which are washed through a water container. The washed pieces are sent through a machine and then it experiences heated flames which ultimately convert pellets into a raw and pure plastic. This pure plastic is used to manufacture different household items, water bottles, boxes and some other products which are now ready to be used.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from collection to the final product. The overview is clear and identifies the main features of the process. However, the description of the stages is somewhat linear and lacks a more analytical approach to the process flow. While the main steps are identified, the response could be improved by grouping stages more effectively or highlighting the transformation of the material more clearly. The summary is accurate, but it stays quite close to the visual information without adding significant synthesis, which is expected for higher band scores.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of the recycling process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction from the body of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the first stage', 'followed by', and 'subsequently' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow between some sentences feels slightly mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion of the text. Overall, the information is easy to follow and the progression is clear.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'recycling process', 'compressing machine', and 'raw and pure plastic' used correctly. There is an attempt to use some specific terminology, but the range is somewhat limited. Phrases like 'items used on daily basis' and 'aligned in a regular manner' are a bit simplistic or slightly unnatural. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more precise collocations and a wider range of vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'raw materials', 'reprocessed', or 'transformed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'gives the bottle a block shape' (should be plural or general) and 'it experiences heated flames' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, and the meaning is never obscured by errors. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied complex structures, such as passive voice constructions, which are particularly suitable for describing industrial processes (e.g., 'the bottles are compressed into blocks' instead of 'the compressing machine presses the bottles').

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

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