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 illustration depicts the recycling process of plastic bottles.

Overall, it can be seen that the process by which plastic bottles are recycled is a multistep cyclical process which consists of 9 different steps as well as a number of different tools and infrastructure, which commences with dropping plastic wastes and ends with producing products.

In the first stage, plastic bottles are placed into a recycling bin. Then, the wastes are taken from the bin by a large recycling truck. Next, they are sorted manually by human labor in a recycling centre. In the fourth step, the sorted bottles are compressed into blocks by a compressor due to its easy portability. Following this, the blocks are crushed by a crushing machine and then washed by water on a large container.

in the subsequent stage, plastic pellets are produced, using the washed subtle plastics. Next, plastic pellets are heated and transformed to raw materials. In addition, raw materials are placed on a tool. In the final stage, necessary products( bottle, box, cloth, pencil, bag) are produced. Lastly, the whole process begins again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process. An overview is successfully presented, noting that it is a cyclical, nine-step process. However, some parts of the process are handled more fully than others. While the initial sorting and crushing stages are described with clear sequential detail, the later stages—such as heating the pellets and producing raw material—are generalised and compressed. To achieve a higher band, the student should ensure that all key features and transformations across every stage of the diagram receive equal and sufficient extension and development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response presents information with a coherent overall arrangement and a clear logical progression following the sequence of the diagram. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps. Cohesive devices such as 'In the first stage', 'Then', 'Next', and 'Following this' are deployed to guide the reader through the cycle. However, some aspects of cohesion are a little mechanical, and referencing between steps occasionally lacks seamless integration. To reach higher bands, the writer could use more varied and sophisticated transitional phrases and smoother referencing across sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying the basic actions of recycling such as 'sorted manually', 'compressed into blocks', and 'crushed by a crushing machine'. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'multistep cyclical process' and 'portability'. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as 'washed subtle plastics', where 'subtle' is an inappropriate word choice for this context, and a minor punctuation spacing issue ('in the subsequent stage'). To move to a higher band, the student needs a wider range of precise, less common vocabulary with fewer word-choice errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and passive voice constructions like 'plastic bottles are placed' and 'the sorted bottles are compressed'. There are some grammatical errors, including a singular/plural agreement slip ('due to its easy portability' referring to plural blocks) and a missing capital letter at the beginning of the fourth paragraph ('in the subsequent stage'). Nevertheless, these errors are relatively infrequent and do not impede communication. To secure a higher band, the writer should demonstrate greater control over complex sentence patterns and produce a higher proportion of error-free sentences.

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

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