Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given diagram demonstrates the recycling process of plastic bottles.

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

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

Meanwhile, the washed plastic particles are converted into pellets by being placed inside the pellet- producing machine. In the seventh step, the pellets are heated to form the raw material. The raw material is used to make bottles, transparent food boxes, shopping bags, stationary, and shirts. The process is repeated and passes through all the above stages to produce plastic objects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and summarising the main features of the plastic bottle recycling process. The response accurately identifies the cyclic nature of the process and outlines the nine stages, starting from collection and ending with useful products. Key features such as sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pelletising, and manufacturing final goods are all reported. While some minor steps could be slightly more concise, the overall coverage is comprehensive and well-developed, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The student introduces the diagram effectively with an overview sentence stating that it is a cyclic process consisting of nine stages. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to guide the reader through the steps, employing sequence markers such as 'Firstly', 'Meanwhile', and 'In the seventh step'. Paragraphing is used, though combining the body into a single dense paragraph slightly limits the score. Referencing is generally clear, connecting the stages smoothly from the garbage truck to the final manufacturing phase, aligning well with Band 6.5 to 7.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a process, incorporating terms such as 'recycling center', 'compressed', 'crushing machine', 'water container', and 'pellet-producing machine'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasings feel slightly unnatural or wordy, such as 'converted into the shape of blocks' instead of simply 'baled' or 'compressed into blocks'. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate and do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the Band 6.0 territory.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

A mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used throughout the response, such as passive voice constructions ('the bottles are collected', 'are sorted according to categories'). There are some minor grammatical awkwardness and minor mechanical phrasing, such as 'by being placed inside the pellet- producing machine' and 'passes through all the above stages'. However, punctuation is generally sound, and the errors do not impede communication. The control of grammar is sufficient to meet the criteria for a Band 6.5.

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