Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-28

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 illustration depicts how plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, it is a cyclic process consisting of 10 stages beginning with the throwing of plastic bottles into recycle bins and ending with the finished plastic goods.

The process begins with consumers disposing off their plastic bottles into recycle bins. From there, they are collected by garbage trucks and sent off to recycling centers to be sorted. After being sorted accordingly, the plastic bottles are compressed into cube shaped blocks.

At stage 5, the process of crushing begins, with the blocks placed between two moving wheels. As these blocks tranform into crushed pieces, they are dropped inside a pool of liquid and washed. Next, the substance goes through a machine so it can be transformed into tiny plastic pellets which are heated to form the raw material. This raw material can later be used to form various plastic goods like containers, bottles and the process commences again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The candidate successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by summarising the main features of the plastic bottle recycling process. An overview is provided, noting that it is a 10-stage cyclic process from consumer disposal to finished goods. Key stages such as collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pelletising, and the creation of raw materials for end products are accurately reported. The information is fully grounded in the provided diagram without major omissions or factual inaccuracies, demonstrating a clear understanding of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised and easy to follow, with a clear progression from the beginning to the end of the recycling loop. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices such as 'The process begins with', 'From there', and 'Next' are employed effectively to guide the reader through the sequence of steps, though cohesion could be slightly more varied to reach a higher band.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for a process description, such as 'cyclic process', 'disposing off', 'compressed', 'crushed', and 'plastic pellets'. While the range is adequate, there is a minor prepositional error ('disposing off' instead of 'disposing of') and some vocabulary is fairly standard rather than sophisticated (e.g., 'finished plastic goods'). Overall, the vocabulary is precise enough to convey the processes clearly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The candidate demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including participial phrases ('After being sorted accordingly, the plastic bottles...') and relative clauses ('plastic goods like containers, bottles and the process commences again'). There are occasional grammatical slips, such as the missing preposition or article in places, but the majority of sentences are error-free and punctuation is handled correctly, ensuring meaning is never obscured.

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

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