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 pictorial chart depicts the recycling process of plastic bottles.

Overall, the process begins with collecting plastic bottles from bins and converted into blocks after compressed the bottles, then being carried into machines for reuse.

At first, people throw bottels into bins. Trucks are collected these bottels for recycle and carried to the recycling centers. At centers, bottels are sorted by workers then carried for compressing to transformed into giant blocks. At the fifth step, the giant blocks are crushed by machines and washed with water.

Moreover, crushed bottels are produced into plastic pellets with the help of machines. After that pallets are heated to convert into raw material. The raw material is used in products, like plastic bags, clothes and containers. The process continues in the same manner again and again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by giving an overview and outlining the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process. However, the length requirement is not met, as the response falls short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 132 words. While the key steps from collection to the production of end products are mentioned, some parts of the process are under-developed or lack precise detail, preventing a fully developed account. For instance, the transition from washing to the production of plastic pellets is described somewhat briefly. To reach a higher level, the response would need to meet the minimum word count and provide a more fully extended description of all stages shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear beginning, middle, and end, following the chronological order of the recycling process. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty. For example, the overview sentence features awkward transitions ('converted into blocks after compressed the bottles'), and referencing is not always completely clear. Transitional markers like 'At first' and 'Moreover' are employed to guide the reader, but the overall flow could be smoother and more logically integrated. To improve, the writer should use a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure tighter logical links between sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the diagram and key processes. There are several attempts to use less-common items and process-specific vocabulary, such as 'recycling centers', 'compressing', 'crushed', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors that occur throughout the text, including 'bottels' (bottles), 'pallets' instead of 'pellets' in the later sentence, and awkward phrasing such as 'produced into plastic pellets'. These lexical inaccuracies and spelling slips prevent the vocabulary from achieving a higher rating, although they do not severely impede general communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like passive voice ('bottles are sorted by workers', 'are crushed by machines'). There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, but they rarely impede communication. Examples of grammatical lapses include awkward passive constructions and participle phrases, such as 'after compressed the bottles' and 'Trucks are collected these bottels for recycle'. Verb tense and voice control show some inconsistency across the text. To move up to a higher band, the writer needs to demonstrate better control over complex grammatical structures and eliminate errors in voice, prepositions, and verb forms.

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

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