Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

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 diagram illustrates the procedure through which plastic bottles are recycled by going through various steps for production of numerous plastic products.

Overall to recreate the goods by recycling them the garbage is collected, plastic is sorted, and goes through compression, crushing, washing, and by heating it is converted into raw material.

People dumped garbage in their respective bins. The garbage is collected by trucks and transported to recycling centre, where plastic products are separated by the manpower in a box. The separated plastic is then compressed in multiple square blocks followed by the crushing in a machine known as crusher. The crushed material is washed and went through a machine where small plastic pelets are produced. These pellets are converted into raw material by heating. At last using that raw material various different products are manufactured and then the cycle goes on.

In conclusion the plastic waste is recycled to produce the raw material to reuse in production of other plastic items.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the visual prompt by outlining the main features of the plastic bottle recycling process. An overview is attempted in the introduction and second paragraph, summarising the primary stages such as collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, and heating. The sequence is followed accurately from the initial disposal of bottles by individuals to the final production of end products, forming a complete loop. However, the description remains somewhat literal and follows a mechanical play-by-play approach rather than fully integrating advanced comparative or analytical commentary. All key stages mentioned in the prompt transcription are accounted for without major omissions or invented data, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is generally coherent and shows a logical progression from the beginning of the recycling process to the end. The text is divided into four distinct paragraphs, separating the introduction, the high-level overview, the detailed sequential steps, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are employed to connect the stages, such as 'The separated plastic is then compressed', 'followed by the crushing', and 'At last'. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, and referencing could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately overall, but the separation of a standalone sentence for the overview makes the structure feel a bit fragmented compared to higher band levels.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing a process diagram, using terms like 'procedure', 'transported', 'separated', 'compressed', and 'manufactured'. There are successful attempts to use less common and topic-specific vocabulary such as 'manpower', 'crusher', and 'raw material'. However, there are minor lexical and spelling errors that affect precision, such as spelling 'pelets' instead of 'pellets' and using awkward phrasing like 'garbage is collected by trucks and transported to recycling centre' (missing an article before 'centre'). Word choices are generally clear enough to communicate meaning without impeding the reader, but lack the finer flexibility and collocation control seen in Band 7 responses.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses ('a machine known as crusher') and passive voice constructions ('The garbage is collected', 'the plastic waste is recycled'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward expressions, such as missing articles ('transported to recycling centre', 'followed by the crushing') and slight preposition or tense inconsistencies ('went through a machine where small plastic pelets are produced'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though commas could be used more effectively to clarify the sequence of clauses. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they prevent the text from achieving a higher band score.

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

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