Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-09

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 cyclic diagram illustrates the various steps through which recycled bottles are converted into several products.

Overall, the process is a cyclic one consisting of nine stages. Beginning with recycling the bottles and ending with a range of finished goods The process includes several stages including sorting the bottles, compressing them into blocks, crushing the bottles and finally producing raw material for manufacturing the goods.

The process begins with putting used plastic bottles into recycling bins, followed by the transportation of bottles to recycling centres by truck. The bottles are sorted in recycling centre. The sorted bottles are compressed into blocks. Subsequently, the compressed blocks are crushed by blades. Thereafter, the shredded plastic is washed in a container.

In the subsequent stage, the shredded plastic is placed in the machine where it s transformed into plastic pellets. These plastic pellets are heated to form the raw material which is converted into a variety of products including new bottles and containers as well as shirts and pencils.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the nine-stage cycle and accurately describes the main sequence from depositing bottles in bins through collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. It also identifies the range of end products, supporting the task with relevant details such as bottles, containers, shirts and pencils. This coverage makes the account complete and well focused. Some details are generalised: for example, the sorting stage’s separation of acceptable and rejected bottles is not explained, and the final products listed omit the carrier bag. The description of the raw material being converted into products is also compressed. Including these details would make the account more fully developed and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a sensible sequence, with an overview followed by the stages in process order. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “followed by,” “Subsequently,” and “In the subsequent stage” help the reader follow the cycle, and the paragraphing separates the overview from the detailed account. This is coherent overall and shows some flexibility in linking. However, the overview’s sentence beginning “Beginning with…” is not properly joined to the preceding sentence, and “The process includes several stages including” is repetitive. The final paragraph also moves quickly from pellets to products without clearly signalling the raw-material stage as a distinct step. More controlled sentence boundaries and clearer stage-to-stage links would strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “transportation,” “compressed,” “shredded,” “pellets,” and “raw material.” These choices communicate the main stages clearly, and there is some variation in how the sequence is described. However, a few expressions are imprecise or less natural for this diagram: “crushed by blades” does not match the depicted rotating gears, while “shirts” is less precise than “T-shirts.” “Recycling centre” is also repeated, and “several products” and “variety of products” are somewhat general. Greater precision in naming the equipment and products, alongside more varied but natural phrasing, would improve lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and more complex structures, including the opening relative clause (“through which recycled bottles are converted”) and participle-led sequencing such as “Beginning with…” and “followed by…”. Most stages remain understandable, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms limit accuracy. The overview contains a fragment-like construction: “Beginning with recycling the bottles and ending with a range of finished goods The process includes…”, with no punctuation separating the opening phrase from the main clause. In “where it s transformed,” the apostrophe is missing, and the passive construction should be “where it is transformed.” There is also inconsistent sentence control around the overview. Practise complete clauses, punctuation, and accurate passive forms to make the range more reliable.

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