Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-13

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 given diagram demonstrates the recycling process of plastic bottles.

Overall, it is a cyclic process. It consists of nine stages, and it starts from collecting bottles from the waste and ends at useful products.

Firstly, the bottles are collected from the garbage in the garbage truck. The loaded truck's container transports the collected material to the recycling centre. In the recycling centre, the plastic bottles are sorted according to the categories. The gathered bottles are compressed and converted into the shape of blocks. The crushing machine is used in the fifth step, the block shape plastic is put in the machine and crushed particles steadily move within the water container which is placed under the crushing machine.

Whereas, the washed plastic particles are converted into pellets by putting them inside the pellets producing machine. In the 7th step, the pellets are heated to form the raw material. The raw material is used to make bottles, transparent food boxes and shopping bags etc..

The process is again repeated and passes through all of the above stages to make plastic objects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student provides a clear overview of the process and manages to cover the main stages of recycling plastic bottles, from collection through to transformation into raw materials and final products. The overview statement effectively captures the cyclic nature and the total number of stages. However, some stages are described rather simplistically or with slight awkwardness, such as 'the block shape plastic is put in the machine'. While the process is adequately summarised and key features are reported, the development of some intermediate steps lacks precise technical detailing that would elevate the response to a higher band. Nevertheless, all parts of the task are addressed, and the response fulfills the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is coherent overall and follows a logical chronological sequence that mirrors the stages in the diagram. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, the initial stages, and the final stages of the process. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the steps, such as 'Firstly', 'In the recycling centre', 'Whereas', and 'In the 7th step'. However, some cohesive links feel slightly mechanical or are used inappropriately, notably the transition 'Whereas' in the fourth paragraph, which incorrectly signals contrast rather than sequential progression. Referencing and progression are generally clear, but the overuse or misuse of certain linking words keeps this criterion at a Band 6.5 level.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms like 'recycling centre', 'compressed', 'crushing machine', 'pellets', and 'raw material'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but word choices and collocations occasionally reveal awkwardness, such as 'block shape plastic' instead of 'plastic blocks' or 'pellets producing machine' instead of 'pelletizer' or 'pellet-producing machine'. Spelling is generally accurate, but some minor lexical inaccuracies and repetitions ('bottles', 'machine', 'plastic') are present. The lexical resource is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, supporting a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, utilising passive voice appropriately in places, such as 'the bottles are collected' and 'the plastic bottles are sorted'. There are, however, several grammatical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings throughout the text. Examples include 'starts from collecting bottles from the waste and ends at useful products' and 'the block shape plastic is put in the machine and crushed particles steadily move'. Punctuation is mostly acceptable, but article usage and prepositional choices need refinement (e.g., 'from the garbage in the garbage truck'). The majority of simple sentences are accurate, but errors in complex forms prevent the score from reaching a higher band, placing it comfortably at a Band 6.0.

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