Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-07

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 process diagram illustrates the process of how plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, the process is a continous cycle of nine stages. The cycle begins with people throwing plastic bottles in trash cans, these plastic bottles then undergo several steps to reach the final step which is the production of end products. After the final step the cycle starts again.

The cycle begins when people dispose off plastic bottles in recycling trash cans. This trash is collected but the recycling trucks and is transported to the recycling centre. At the recycling centre, the trash is stored. The plastic bottles that can be recycled are separated from the rest of the trash by the staff members.

These plastic bottles are then compressed into blocks which are then crushed using machines. The resulting small parts of crushed plastic is then washed. After that, a machine is used to convert these small parts into plastic pellets. Next the plastic pellets are heated to form the raw material. Finally the raw material is used to produce the end products like bottles, containers etc. Then the cycle starts again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main stages in the correct order and give a clear overview that the process is a continuous cycle, ending with products and returning to the start. The account includes collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating and manufacture, so the key sequence is represented. Some details are less fully or precisely reported: at the recycling centre, bottles are sorted into recyclable and rejected items, rather than simply saying the trash is stored before separation. The final products are also only illustrated with “bottles, containers etc.”, although the diagram includes clothing, pencils and a carrier bag. To strengthen the overview and detail, describe the sorting decision and make clear that the recycled material can become a range of products.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a sensible sequence, with an overview followed by the early collection and sorting stages and then the processing stages. Time and sequence markers such as “Overall,” “After that,” “Next” and “Finally” help the reader follow the cycle. The paragraphing is also appropriate. However, some links are repetitive or slightly mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “then” and “The cycle begins.” The overview says the cycle begins with disposal, and the final paragraph repeats that it starts again without adding much. Some reference is also imprecise: “This trash” could refer to the bottles or to general waste. Use varied sequencing and clearer references to make the progression more fluent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “washed,” “plastic pellets” and “raw material,” which communicates the stages clearly. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “recycling centre” and “end products.” Some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “trash” is used several times where “bottles” or “plastic waste” would be clearer, and “recycling trash cans” is less natural than “recycling bins.” There are also spelling and word-form slips, including “continous” and “dispose off.” Aim for precise terms that match the diagram and check spelling and collocations. This would make the description more natural and reduce reliance on general words such as “small parts” and “etc.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including the overview sentence “After the final step the cycle starts again” and the relative clause “The plastic bottles that can be recycled…”. Most stages remain understandable despite some grammatical errors. For example, “This trash is collected but the recycling trucks” has an incorrect preposition and passive construction; “is transported” should also agree with the plural bottles or waste being described. In “The resulting small parts of crushed plastic is then washed,” the plural subject requires “are.” The opening phrase “The process diagram illustrates the process of how…” is also unnecessarily repetitive. Continue using varied sentence structures, but check agreement, prepositions and sentence construction carefully so that the description is consistently accurate.

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