Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The diagram demonstrates the process for recycling plastic bottles into the new products.

Overall, it is a cyclical process that begins with consumers disposing of bottles and ends with the creation of new items such as clothing and containers which are then reuse.

In the first stage, people throw used plastic bottles into recycling bins.These bottles are then collected by a garbage truck and transported to a recycling centre. At the centre, workers manually sort the recycle bottles from non-recyclable waste.The sorted plastic is then compressed into large blocks in the fourth stage.

Following this , the blocks are crushed into small pieces and washed them for any impurities. After washing these, thorough the help of machine heating pellets to make raw material. Raw material then place in order. In tha last step, this raw material is used to manufacturing various new products, including plastic bottles, T-shirts, food containers and shopping bags.Once these products are consumed,they can again be thrown into recycling bins,thus completing the loop.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the process as cyclical and identifies its starting point, its return to the recycling bin, and several end products. It also reports the main stages in the correct order, from collection and sorting through compression, crushing, washing and the production of new goods. These details address the task well. Some stages are less fully described: “Raw material then place in order” does not clearly explain that the heated pellets form raw material, which is then packaged or stored, and the account of sorting could clarify that unsuitable bottles are rejected. To strengthen the response further, describe these intermediate stages precisely and avoid vague wording where the diagram provides a specific action.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a sensible sequence, with an overview followed by the stages from disposal to reuse. Paragraphing helps distinguish the overview from the process description, and transitions such as “In the first stage,” “Following this,” and “In the last step” guide the reader. This gives the response a coherent overall progression. However, some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “After washing these, thorough the help of machine heating pellets” and “Raw material then place in order.” The final return to the bins is relevant but could be connected more smoothly to the overview of the cycle. Use cohesive devices to clarify relationships, rather than relying mainly on stage markers, and ensure each sentence follows clearly from the previous one.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing the process, and the response uses relevant terms such as “compressed,” “crushed,” “impurities,” and “raw material.” It also names several products accurately. There are, however, some imprecise or unnatural choices that limit flexibility and precision. “Garbage truck” is understandable, but “recycling collection truck” is more specific; “the recycle bottles” is not the appropriate phrase for bottles selected for recycling; and “raw material then place in order” does not convey the intended handling clearly. “Consumed” is also not the most natural verb for products such as clothing or containers. Aim for accurate process collocations and choose verbs that describe each stage precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts both simple and more complex structures, including a relative clause in “products … which are then reuse” and sequencing clauses such as “Once these products are consumed.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in verb forms and sentence construction occur in several places. For example, “which are then reuse” needs a passive participle, “washed them for any impurities” has an incorrect structure, and “Raw material then place in order” lacks a correctly formed verb. The sentence beginning “After washing these” is also incomplete or malformed. Improve control of passive forms and ensure each clause has a clear subject and finite verb; careful punctuation and spacing will also make the sentences easier to read.

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