Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-05

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 illustartes the process of recycling of plastic bottles which is being divided into 7 steps.

An overall Analysis depicts that the process starts from the throwing the plastic bottles to the commmercial dustbin and ends with the producing of the end products

However after throwing bottles to the dustbin by us/humans it is then collected by the garbage collecting truck. The bottles are then delivered to the recycling center where plastic bottles are seperated from other garbage. The plastic bottles are then being compressed using hydraulic compressor into a cube. This is then send to the crusher for bottles to cut into small pieces. These small pieces are washed so they get clean for to be processed further.

The crushed pieces are then transfer to the machine that produce plastic pellets . These pellets are heated to transform it into raw material. The raw material is packed and transported to the factories that produce the products from them. After product are produced these are transferred to market so people can buy it again

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 the initial disposal by consumers to the final production of end products. It meets the requirements of a Band 6 by presenting a clear overview and highlighting key stages, but it earns a higher mark by extending and reporting most of the process accurately. However, some ideas remain slightly under-developed or imprecise, such as misidentifying the total number of steps as 7 instead of the 9 sequential stages shown in the diagram. To reach higher bands, the student should ensure all specific mechanical phases like washing and pellet heating are described with greater precision and full coverage of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response presents a coherent overall arrangement and follows a chronological sequence corresponding to the diagram. The writer uses basic cohesive devices such as 'An overall Analysis', 'However', and 'The bottles are then' to link sentences and paragraphs. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or slightly repetitive, and referencing is not always completely clear, such as the abrupt transition between paragraphs. Paragraphing is attempted, but the organization could be improved by grouping related stages of the process more logically into distinct sections. To achieve a higher level, the writer needs to employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices and ensure smoother logical progression throughout the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate the main steps of the recycling process. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary items such as 'hydraulic compressor', 'commercial dustbin', and 'plastic pellets'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'illustartes' (spelling), 'throwing the plastic bottles to' (inappropriate preposition/collocation), and 'transfer to the machine' (incorrect word form). These errors do not seriously impede communication, reflecting a typical Band 5 lexical profile, though the attempt at task-specific terminology shows glimpses of higher capability.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writing displays a limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences and basic passive constructions with occasional attempts at complex forms, such as relative or participial clauses. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the process starts from the throwing', 'After product are produced'), article omissions ('to the recycling center'), and awkward prepositional usage inside grammatical patterns ('clean for to be processed'). These frequent errors can occasionally cause some difficulty for the reader, which places this aspect firmly at the Band 5 level. To improve, the student needs to focus on mastering basic sentence mechanics, verb forms, and articles.

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

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