Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-15

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 process of recycling plastic bottles, from collecting used bottles to producing new products.

Overall, there are nine main stages in the recycling process. It begins with collecting plastic bottles and ends with producing different products such as bottles, clothes, containers and pencils. The bottles go through several stages including sorting, compressing, crushing, washing and heating.

First, used plastic bottles are placed in a recycling bin and collected by a recycling truck. The bottles are then taken to a recycling centre, where they are sorted. The recyclable bottles are separated from the waste materials. After that, they are compressed into large blocks and crushed into small pieces. These pieces are then washed to remove any dirt.

In the next stage, the clean plastic pieces are used to produce plastic pellets. These pellets are heated to form raw material. The raw material is then stored in large blocks before being used to make new products. Finally, the recycled plastic is made into various items, including bottles, food containers, T-shirts, shopping bags and pencils.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process depicted in the diagram, meeting the word count requirement with 175 words. The candidate provides a clear, accurate overview stating that there are nine main stages beginning with collection and ending with end products. Key features such as sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, producing pellets, and heating are all reported correctly in logical sequence without any significant omissions or misinterpretations of the visual data. The summary accurately reflects the clockwise closed loop of the diagram, making relevant observations about the transformation of used bottles into raw material and subsequently into final products like T-shirts and containers. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is well-organised with a clear overall progression from the beginning to the end of the recycling process. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately, with an introduction and overview paragraph followed by distinct body paragraphs detailing the sequential stages. Cohesive devices such as 'It begins with', 'First', 'The bottles are then taken to', 'After that', and 'In the next stage' are employed naturally to guide the reader through the flow chart. Referencing is clear throughout, ensuring that the relationships between the various stages of the process are easy to follow. The logical structure and smooth transitions support a coherent reading experience, justifying a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for describing a technical process. Terms such as 'recycling centre', 'compressing', 'crushing', 'plastic pellets', and 'raw material' are used accurately in context. Phrasing is natural and appropriate for an academic task, with few errors in word choice. Although the lexical range does not frequently push into sophisticated or uncommon academic collocations, the vocabulary used is precise enough to convey all information clearly and effectively. The occasional attempts at less common vocabulary are successful, satisfying the criteria for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 7, with Band 6.5 accurately capturing the overall lexical variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation, successfully utilizing a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Present tense passive voice structures, which are essential for describing processes, are handled accurately throughout the text, as seen in examples like 'are placed in a recycling bin', 'are separated from the waste materials', and 'are heated to form raw material'. Sentences are grammatically sound with very few errors, and punctuation is handled correctly. The majority of sentences are error-free, reflecting good grammatical control appropriate for a Band 7 descriptor.

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

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