Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-04

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 demonstrates the cycle of how plastic bottles are recycled in order to be used again.

The whole process of recycling plastic bottles is a nine step cycle in which plastic bottles are being collected and than passed through different recycling procedures in order to make raw materials which in turn is used to make different products whether it be clothes, bags or plastic bags.

At first, the plastic products are collected, this collection is then taken to the area where recycling is carried out. All the collected plastic products are sorted out and passed through compressors to be compressed into blocks, these blocks are passed through crushers and then washed.

The washed crushed plastic is then used to produce plastic pellets as these small pellets are easier to be heated in order to form raw material. Finally, the raw material is then through passed to different processes in order to make different end products, including clothes , plastic bags, plastic bottles and containers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by summarising the main features of the plastic bottle recycling process. It provides a clear overview in the opening and second paragraph, capturing the cyclical nature of the process and the final transformation into end products. However, some stages of the process are somewhat generalised or under-developed. For instance, the intermediate steps involving sorting, crushing, and washing are compressed into a single dense paragraph without breaking down every distinct phase clearly. To reach a higher band, the response would need to ensure that all stages are more fully and distinctly highlighted with consistent depth throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a logical sequence that follows the numbered stages of the diagram from collection to the production of end products. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, the overview of the cycle, the intermediate mechanical stages, and the final pelletisation and manufacturing phases. However, cohesion relies on somewhat repetitive connective devices and run-on structures, such as overusing commas to link clauses like 'All the collected plastic products are sorted out and passed through compressors to be compressed into blocks, these blocks are passed through crushers and then washed.' Improving referencing and employing a wider variety of cohesive devices would enhance the flow of the writing.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to successfully describe technical processes such as 'recycling procedures', 'compressed into blocks', and 'plastic pellets'. There are several attempts to use less common vocabulary, though this is occasionally accompanied by awkward word choices or minor errors, such as 'through passed' instead of 'passed through'. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate enough not to impede communication, with terms like 'manufacture', 'containers', and 'materials' used correctly. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate a broader range of precise, sophisticated lexical items and idioms specific to describing industrial cycles and manufacturing processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at relative clauses and participial phrases, such as 'in which plastic bottles are being collected'. There are several grammatical errors and awkward structural patterns present, including passive voice inconsistencies like 'plastic bottles are being collected and than passed', where the spelling of 'then' is also affected. Additionally, run-on sentences and punctuation slips occur, such as comma splices linking independent clauses. While these errors rarely impede overall communication, they prevent the writing from achieving a higher level of grammatical control and error-free complexity.

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