Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-24

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 method of Recycling plastic is done in nine simple steps.

In the first step all the garbage which can be recycled is dumped into the bin by the individuals, when the recycle bin is full its been collected by the municiple waste collector truck. Followed by this sorting is done in the recycling centre by the authorized personnel.

Consequently, all the plastic will go through compression and will convert into the blocks. It is then forwaded to the crushing station where it will get crushed into the small particles. The particles will be thoroughly washed and dryed producing dry plastic pellets. Its regarded as the most important step in the recycle process as it involves lots of manpower and energy.

Apparently, pellets will ne heated to form raw material. This will be almost reaching to the final stage. The raw material formed will then converted into the respective final product like clothes, stationary and containers which is then supplied to the users.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all the key stages of the recycling process depicted in the diagram, beginning with domestic disposal and ending with the production of new end products. The response accurately reports the main features in a sequential manner, noting sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production, and heating into raw materials. However, the explanation introduces minor subjective commentary not present in the prompt, such as stating that pellet production is 'regarded as the most important step... as it involves lots of manpower and energy.' Despite this minor addition, the overall summary is clear, covers all parts of the visual data well, and fulfills the requirements of Task 1 adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged logically following the chronological flow of the diagram. Paragraphing is used to break down the stages into an introduction and subsequent processing phases. Cohesive devices such as 'In the first step', 'Followed by this', 'Consequently', and 'It is then' are employed to guide the reader through the stages, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, linking the plastic through its various states from bottles to blocks, particles, pellets, and finally end products, maintaining a recognizable overall progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'recycling centre', 'compression', 'crushing station', 'plastic pellets', and 'raw material'. There are several attempts to use less common vocabulary and phrases, though some word choices and collocations feel slightly unnatural, such as 'garbage which can be recycled' instead of 'recyclable waste' or 'dryed' instead of 'dried'. Spelling and word-choice errors do not impede communication, but they reflect a mid-level lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including passive voice constructions like 'will go through compression' and 'will be thoroughly washed'. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation slips throughout the text, such as missing articles ('the municiple waste collector truck'), comma splices or run-on structures ('...by the individuals, when the recycle bin is full its been collected...'), and missing apostrophes ('its'). Additionally, verb tense consistency wavers slightly between present and future forms. However, these errors rarely impede overall communication.

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