Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-03
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 6.5)
The diagram illustrates the nine stages of the recycling process of plastic bottles on industrial level.
Overall, the recycling process completed at different levels started from the collection of bottles to transport in the recycling centre. Process of compressing, crushing and washing is completed followed by producing plastic pellets.These are used as raw material for production of different products.
Initally, bottles are collected from waste and transported to the recycling centres. Plastic containers then sorting out into different groups and then these bottles are transformed into blocks by compression. After that, crushing of these blocks is done by wheel like crushers and then product is washed in the containers to remove the impurities.
Subsequently, crushed particles are proceeded in the machines to produce plastic pellets. By heating, these pelletes are changed into raw material. Finally, this raw material is packed in stacks in proper way and then further transported to different factories. This plastic raw material converted into different types of products like clothes,bags and different kinds of containers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response covers all parts of the task by outlining the nine stages of the plastic bottle recycling process, fulfilling the requirements for a clear overview and highlighting key features such as sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production, and final manufacturing. The main trends and stages are reported accurately with a clear progression from collection to end products. However, some aspects are slightly under-developed or generalized, such as omitting minor details regarding the sorting step where items are separated into checked and rejected categories. To reach a higher band, the description would need to provide a more fully developed, comprehensive account of every stage without minor omissions.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The response presents a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is arranged chronologically, mirroring the loop of the diagram effectively. Paragraphing is utilized to separate the introduction, overview, and body details appropriately. Cohesive devices such as 'Initally', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' are employed to guide the reader through the stages, though referencing and transitional phrases can occasionally feel somewhat mechanical. To achieve a higher standard of cohesion, the integration of linking devices could be more flexible and natural rather than relying on standard sequential markers.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items related to the industrial process, such as 'compressing', 'crushing', 'impurities', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and word formation, such as 'Initally' (spelling), 'completed at different levels started' (awkward phrasing), 'sorting out' (incorrect form for passive voice 'are sorted out'), and 'pelletes' (spelling). These minor lexical errors do not impede communication, placing the response firmly in the middle band for vocabulary. Greater precision and error-free spelling of technical terms would elevate this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting passive structures suitable for a process diagram, such as 'bottles are collected' and 'crushing of these blocks is done'. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that persist throughout the text, including article omissions ('on industrial level', 'to transport in the recycling centre'), incorrect verb forms ('particles are proceeded' instead of processed), and subject-verb agreement or tense shifts. While these errors rarely impede overall communication, the frequent presence of basic grammatical slips prevents the response from achieving a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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