Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-02

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 diagram illustrates how the recycling of plastic bottles is processed.

Overall, the process consists of nine main stages, begining with throwing used bottles into the recycling bin and culminating in useful bottles and clothes. Broadly speaking, bottles undergo a series of physical and mechanical changes before the recycled product is produced.

Initially, used bottles are tossed into the recycling bin. This is followed by pickup of trash via garbage truck. Once this stage has been completed, plastic bottles is then transported to recycling centre where they are sorted. Subsequently, the.compressing of bottles take place to turn them into blocks.

In the next stage, these pasltic blocks is then go through the procedure of crushing and washing. Moreover, the resulting product is then transferred to a machine that converts them into plastic pellets. Furthermore, these pellets are then heated to make the raw material. Finally, the raw material is used to produce plastic products and clothes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all parts of the prompt by summarising the main features of the plastic bottle recycling process. It provides a clear overview outlining that the process consists of nine main stages involving physical and mechanical changes. The key stages, from initial disposal and collection through sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pelletising, and heating to final raw material creation and end-product manufacturing, are all reported. However, some aspects are slightly more developed than others, and the description relies heavily on a sequential step-by-step account rather than fully integrating broader comparative insights or grouping stages more analytically. To reach the next level, the response would need to provide a more fully extended and sophisticated overview of the entire cycle with deeper integration of related stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression from the beginning to the end of the recycling cycle. Information is divided into logical paragraphs, separating the introduction, overview, initial collection and sorting stages, and the subsequent processing stages. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'This is followed by', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the sequence. However, cohesion occasionally feels somewhat mechanical or repetitive in its reliance on time markers. Furthermore, referencing and punctuation errors, such as a stray full stop in 'the.compressing', slightly disrupt the flow. To achieve a higher band, the use of cohesive devices would need to be more flexible and unobtrusive, ensuring seamless transitions between ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items related to the recycling process such as 'culminating', 'mechanical changes', 'transported', and 'pellets'. However, there are notable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'begining' instead of beginning, 'pasltic' instead of plastic, and unnatural phrasing such as 'is then go through'. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they reflect a limited control over spelling and precise word form. To move to a higher band, the vocabulary range needs to be wider and more precise, with fewer errors in word choice, spelling, and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some ability to structure sentences with subordinate clauses and passive voice constructions. However, there are noticeable grammatical errors regarding subject-verb agreement and verb forms, such as 'plastic bottles is then transported' and 'these pasltic blocks is then go through', where plural subjects and incorrect verb combinations are used. Punctuation errors, such as the incorrect period placement within 'the.compressing', also occur. These errors represent a typical pattern at this level where grammar mistakes persist even when attempting complex structures. To improve, the writer must ensure better accuracy in basic grammatical structures, particularly subject-verb agreement and auxiliary verb usage.

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

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