Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-01
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 process diagram illustrate the step-by-step procedure plastic bottles to make useful end products.
To begin with(Stages 1 to 5), in the first stage throw used plastic bottles into recycling bins. These bottles collected by garbage trucks then its transport by the recycling center for sorting. After that, the bottles are compressed into large blocks and it convert to small pieces, then which are washed thoroughly by water.
Following the washing process(stages 6 to 9), the clean plastic pieces are processed Ina machine for producing plastic pellets. Next, these pellets are heated to from raw material, after that which is used in the final stage to manufacture various products such as clothes, pencils, bags, and new plastic containers.
Overall, it is multi-step cyclical process consisting of 9 main stages. It begin with the collection of used plastic bottles by comsumers and end with manufacturing various new plastic products and containers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response successfully covers all parts of the diagram, moving logically through the cyclical stages from collection to the final manufacturing of products. The key features of the process are reported accurately, such as sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, and pellet production. However, some parts of the description are more fully developed than others, and certain mechanical actions of the diagram are generalized rather than thoroughly detailed. This uneven development prevents the response from achieving a higher band, yet it successfully provides an overview and highlights the main stages as required for this level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the initial stages to the final conclusion. Paragraphing is utilized effectively to break the process down into logical phases, starting with the first five stages, moving to the remaining steps, and finishing with a comprehensive summary. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'After that', 'Next', and 'Overall' are employed, though referencing is occasionally mechanical or faulty, such as in the phrasing 'then which are washed', which slightly disrupts the natural flow of information. The transition between sentences demonstrates a clear understanding of sequence, satisfying the requirements for this band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully attempting less common items related to the recycling process such as 'cyclical process', 'pellets', and 'manufacture'. However, there are noticeable word choice, word form, and spelling errors throughout the text, including 'comsumers' instead of 'consumers' and 'illustrate' instead of 'illustrates'. Furthermore, awkward collocations and phrasing like 'its transport by the recycling center' demonstrate limitations in lexical control. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they reflect an inconsistent control of vocabulary that keeps the lexical score at this level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and introductory prepositional phrases. However, frequent grammatical errors occur in verb forms, voice, and agreement, such as 'The process diagram illustrate', 'used plastic bottles into recycling bins' (missing a verb), and 'it convert to small pieces'. Awkward structural patterns and missing auxiliary verbs are common throughout the text, meaning that while some sentences are successfully constructed, the high frequency of basic structural errors restricts the overall grammatical score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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