Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-10

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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates the recycling method of plastic bottles.

Overall, the graph depicts that the process of recycling plastic bottles consist of nine steps. It begins with the disposal of raw bottles into bins which afterwards is passed through multiple stages including its complete crushing at stage five of the process before turning them into many useful products like pencils, shirts and many more.

The process starts with the people throwing the bottles into bins at stage one. The disposed bottles are than carried away by vehicles to the recycling centres which are sorted there in the right order. At stage four of the process the bottles are compressed in a container into a block like structure. Next to that, they are crushed with the help of mechanical objects and are washed in some liquid afterwards. Similarly, the crushed stuff is than converted into pallets which are then heated at stage seven before turning them into raw material. In the final step, many different useful products are manufactured from the raw material which are made of plastic bottles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the recycling process. You have clearly outlined the sequence from disposal to the manufacturing of new products. However, the description of the stages could be more precise. For instance, you mention 'stage five' and 'stage seven' without clearly linking these to the specific actions shown in the diagram, which makes the report feel slightly mechanical rather than analytical. To reach a higher band, ensure that you group the stages more logically (e.g., collection, processing, and manufacturing) rather than simply listing them step-by-step. The overview is present but could be more comprehensive by highlighting the transformation from waste to raw material.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'The process starts with', 'Next to that', and 'In the final step' to guide the reader. However, the use of linking words is sometimes repetitive or slightly unnatural, such as 'Similarly, the crushed stuff is than converted'. The word 'than' is incorrectly used throughout the text instead of 'then'. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the transition between the collection phase and the processing phase could be smoother to improve the overall flow of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'disposal', 'compressed', 'mechanical', and 'manufactured'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'crushed stuff' and 'raw material' (which is used slightly inaccurately in the context of the diagram). Additionally, there are consistent spelling errors, specifically the confusion between 'then' and 'than'. To improve, focus on using more precise nouns and verbs related to industrial processes and ensure you proofread for common homophone errors, which currently limit the sophistication of your writing.

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 inaccuracies. For example, 'the process of recycling plastic bottles consist of' should be 'consists of' (subject-verb agreement). You also have issues with articles and prepositions, such as 'in the right order' or 'made of plastic bottles' (which is slightly redundant). The sentence structure is generally functional, but the frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation prevent the text from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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