Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-11

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 illustrates how bottles are recycled.

It is clear that the there are a number of stages in the process of recycling bottles. It is also noticeable that the process starts with collecting bottles, and culminates in producing various products for selling.

looking at the diagram in more detail, the process of recyling bottles commences with collecting used bottles. Then, bottles are transported to industry by using large lorries. Afterwards, bottles are divided into two box where good bottles are gone to next stage. Moreover, collected bottles are compressed to make blocks. Farthermore, compressing blocks are crushing, which then washed by water.

For the remaining stages, plastic pellets are produced by using plastic pieces. In the following stage, plastic pellets are heated by fire. In the next stage, raw material is created, which is used for making new bottles, sharts, bag, plastic box, and pancil so that people can use it. finally, all products are fallen into bins.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from collection through processing to the creation of new products, and your overview identifies the start and end of the cycle. The details about sorting bottles, compressing and washing them, making pellets, and heating those pellets are relevant. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the diagram shows bottles being sorted into accepted and rejected groups, but “good bottles are gone to next stage” does not explain this clearly. The final products are not all bottles, and the diagram shows products returning to the recycling bin rather than “falling into bins.” To strengthen the response, describe the closed loop accurately and report the sorting and end-product stages more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by the early stages and then the remaining stages. Sequencing words such as “Then,” “Afterwards,” and “In the following stage” help the reader follow the process, and the division into paragraphs is useful. This gives the account a coherent progression. However, some links are mechanical or imprecise, particularly “For the remaining stages,” and the transition from the raw material to the products and then back to the start of the cycle is not fully explained. The phrase “which then washed by water” also makes the connection between crushing and washing less clear. Use a wider range of accurate links and make the recycling loop explicit in the final sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “transported,” “compressed,” “pellets,” “heated,” and “raw material,” which helps convey the stages. However, several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems reduce precision: “transported to industry” is vague, “divided into two box” is inaccurate, and “products are fallen into bins” does not express the diagram’s return to recycling. There are also misspellings such as “recyling,” “sharts,” and “pancil.” Aim for precise process terms and check spelling, especially for key nouns. More accurate choices would make the description clearer without requiring a more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “raw material is created, which is used for making new bottles” and a purpose clause with “so that.” The sequence is generally understandable, but grammatical errors occur in several sentences. For example, “the there are” contains an unnecessary article, “two box” needs a plural noun, and “good bottles are gone to next stage” has an incorrect verb construction and missing article. The passive form in “which then washed by water” also needs an auxiliary verb. Review articles, plural agreement, and passive structures, and proofread sentence openings and punctuation. Greater accuracy in these patterns would make your varied sentences easier to follow.

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

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