Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-18

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 diagrams show the process of how plastic bottles are recycled. Overall, there are several stages in the recycling process, starting with putting empty plastic bottles into dustbins and ending with producing new plastic products.

First, people put their empty plastic bottles into special recycling dustbins. After that, a truck collects the bottles from the dustbins and takes them to a recycling centre. At the centre, workers sort the bottles and separate them from other waste. The selected bottles are then compressed into large blocks. Next, these blocks are put into a crushing machine, where they are broken into small pieces. After crushing, the small pieces are washed carefully to remove any dirt and unwanted materials.

In the next stage, the clean plastic pieces are processed to produce plastic pellets. These pellets are then heated and turned into raw plastic material. Finally, the raw material is used to make different new plastic products. In this way, used plastic bottles can be recycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully summarises the main stages of the recycling process, starting from throwing bottles into dustbins and concluding with the production of new end products. Key stages such as sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pelletising, and heating are accurately reported in a logical sequence. The overview provided in the introduction is clear and captures the essence of the diagram. The response covers all parts of the task well, fulfilling the requirements for an Academic Task 1 response. There are no major omissions or inaccuracies compared to the visual data provided, demonstrating a solid understanding of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression from the beginning to the end of the process. The student effectively uses cohesive devices such as 'First', 'After that', 'At the centre', 'Next', and 'Finally' to guide the reader smoothly through the various steps. Paragraphing is used appropriately, separating the introduction, the main body of sequential steps, and the concluding stages. Although referencing and cohesion are straightforward and somewhat standard, they are handled well throughout the text, ensuring the overall arrangement remains coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing process-specific terminology such as 'compressing', 'crushing', 'plastic pellets', and 'raw material'. There are attempts to use less common items with reasonable success. However, there is a minor grammatical error at the very end of the text ('can be recycle' instead of 'can be recycled') which affects lexical/grammatical accuracy. Overall, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the process clearly and precisely, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'At the centre, workers sort the bottles and separate them from other waste' and 'Next, these blocks are put into a crushing machine, where they are broken into small pieces.' Control over grammar is generally good, with frequent error-free sentences. However, there is a noticeable verb form error in the final sentence ('can be recycle' instead of 'can be recycled'). Punctuation and sentence boundaries are handled correctly, allowing the text to flow without impeding communication.

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

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