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, beginning 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 are 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 task by outlining the main stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, from initial disposal to the creation of new end products. An adequate overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the cyclical nature and key transformation phases of the process. However, some aspects of the response remain slightly under-developed; for instance, the description of intermediate stages lacks detail regarding the specific mechanisms involved, such as the sorting and washing processes. To reach a higher level, the response would need to provide a more extended and detailed reporting of all key features depicted in the diagram, avoiding generalisations where specific actions are shown.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The writing demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the beginning to the end of the recycling loop. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are employed to connect the stages, using sequencing words such as 'Initially', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally'. However, cohesion is occasionally mechanical or faulty, as seen with punctuation errors around cohesive links and repetitive sentence openings. Referencing is generally clear, but to achieve a higher band, the writer must employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices without relying on repetitive transitional formulas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'recycling centre', 'compressing', 'crushing', and 'plastic pellets'. There are, however, noticeable lexical errors and spelling mistakes that affect precision, such as 'pasltic' instead of 'plastic' and awkward phrasing like 'the.compressing of bottles take place'. The attempt to use less common vocabulary is present, but occasional inaccuracies in word choice and word formation indicate a need for greater lexical control. To improve, the writer should focus on correct word forms, accurate spelling, and more natural collocations when describing industrial processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like passive voice constructions and subordinate clauses. There are, however, several grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues such as 'these pasltic blocks is then go through' and faulty punctuation, like the stray period in 'subsequently, the.compressing'. While these errors do not impede overall communication and allow the meaning to be understood, they persist frequently enough to prevent the response from achieving a higher band. Improving control over verb forms, agreement, and punctuation in complex sentences will elevate this criterion.

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