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 diagrammatic representation elucidates the steps for recycling plastic bottles.

Considering from an overall perspective, it can be apparently observed that this process involves nine consecutive steps such as collection, sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, heating and producing

To begin with, used plastic bottles are thrown into recycle bins which are than collected by the trucks to recycling center. In the recycling center the bottles are sorted accordingly for moving to further step. After sorting it, the bottles are than compressed into the block shape. In the next step, the blocks are than crushed and the crushed bottle are washed properly in water.

Furthermore, after washing, the crushed bottles are put into the machine for producing plastic pallets. And once the pallet is ready it were heated to form raw material and from the raw material there are tons of products are produced such as t-shirts, bags, pencil, bottle and more.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main steps of the recycling process, starting from throwing bottles into bins to producing end products. However, some stages are more fully developed than others, and the overview at the beginning is somewhat list-like and trails off abruptly ('heating and producing'). While the overall sequence is captured, certain descriptions lack sufficient detail or precise reporting of the visual information, such as omitting the intermediate stages of pellet creation and heating before the final raw material phase. This level of coverage appropriately reflects a competent attempt where relevant ideas are presented, but some aspects remain slightly under-developed or abbreviated.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a clear overall arrangement and progression, guiding the reader through the nine-stage cycle using time and sequence markers such as 'To begin with', 'After sorting it', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used logically to break the process down into manageable sections. However, cohesion can occasionally feel mechanical or repetitive, particularly with the frequent reliance on the word 'then' (spelled 'than' in places). Referencing is generally functional, but the transition between sentences could flow more smoothly to achieve a higher level of cohesion where devices are managed with greater flexibility and subtlety.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, attempting some less common items related to recycling such as 'diagrammatic representation', 'consecutive steps', and 'compressed'. There are, however, several word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as writing 'than' instead of 'then', 'pallets' instead of 'pellets', and awkward phrasings like 'moving to further step' or 'block shape'. These errors do not impede overall communication, but they reflect a mid-range command of lexical resource where vocabulary control needs greater precision and accuracy in spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over passive voice constructions ('are thrown', 'are sorted', 'are produced'). However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, including misuse of conjunctions and prepositions, subject-verb agreement issues ('once the pallet is ready it were heated'), and spelling confusion affecting word classes. Complex sentence attempts occasionally become faulty or awkward. These recurring errors and limitations in structural variety place the grammatical performance firmly in the mid-range.

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