Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 provided illustration displays the process in which plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, it is a cycle process consisting of nine distinct phases. this process starts with collecting plastic bottles from a large recycle bin and ending with throwing used items to be recycled again.

Initially, bottles are collected from a special bin and transfered them to a vehicle which is specialized for recycling. Then this vehicle take the plastic bottles to the recycling centre. In this stage, all the recycling materials are sorted into different boxs. After that, once the bottles have been sorted, they are converted into blocks by compressing them together.

Later, these blocks are degraded through a specific machine into many small pecises. Followed by washing them in a huge container. After they have been washed, the particles are moved to an immense machine to produce plastic pellets. These pellets are then heated to produce raw material. The raw material is pakaged and sent to companies to produce a varity of items such as new bottles, containers, clothes, bags and penciles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the main stages accurately, from bottles being placed in a bin and collected to sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating and the creation of new products. The overview identifies the process as a nine-stage cycle, and the examples of end products are relevant. This gives a clear account of the diagram’s central features. However, the overview says the process ends with “throwing used items to be recycled again,” whereas the diagram shows the end products returning to the start of the cycle; this could be stated more precisely. The account also generalises the sorting stage as sorting “all the recycling materials” rather than explaining that unsuitable items are separated. More precise coverage of these details would strengthen an otherwise complete summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear sequence, and the paragraphing separates the overview from the detailed stages. Time and sequence markers such as “Initially,” “Then,” “After that,” and “Later” help the reader follow the process from collection through to the production of new items. The progression is generally easy to understand, and the final sentence connects the raw material to its end products. Some linking is less controlled: “Followed by washing them” is a sentence fragment, and “After that, once” uses two sequencing expressions where one would be enough. The overview’s description of the cycle ending with items being thrown away also weakens the logical closure. More varied, precise links and complete sentences would make the flow smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “compressing,” “pellets,” “raw material,” and “recycling centre,” and the examples of products help convey the final stage. However, word choice and spelling errors are noticeable and limit precision. “Degraded” is not a natural description of plastic being mechanically reduced; “crushed” or “shredded” would be more accurate. “Immense machine” is an imprecise choice for the equipment, while “packaged” does not clearly describe the palletised raw material shown. There are also misspellings such as “transfered,” “boxs,” “pecises,” “pakaged,” “varity,” and “penciles.” Aim for accurate process-specific vocabulary and check spelling carefully, as these errors reduce the overall control of the vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a range of sentence forms, including sequencing clauses and passive constructions such as “they are converted into blocks” and “These pellets are then heated.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction are frequent enough to limit accuracy. For example, “this process starts … and ending” does not maintain a parallel verb form; “transfered them to a vehicle” combines a passive idea with an object incorrectly; and “this vehicle take” has a subject–verb agreement error. “Followed by washing them in a huge container” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. Capitalisation after the full stop in “this process” also needs correction. Practise consistent passive forms and complete, well-controlled complex sentences.

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