Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-12

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 display the process of recycling plastic bottles then truning itno raw material.

Overall, the process consist of several stages, beginning with the diposal of used plastic bottles and ending with the production of new items. Its involves sorting, crushing and cleaning before they converted into raw materials.

At the first stage, peple place plastic bottles in recyling bins. These bottle then collected and tansported to a recyling centre, where they are sorted. The recyleable bottles are sepreated for unwanted waste and then compressed into blocks.

Next,the compressed plastic bottles crushed into small pieces, which are subsequently washed to clean all impurities. After being cleaned, the small pieces are processed into small plastic pellets. These pellets are then heated and melted to produce raw plastic material.

At final stage, the raw material is used to manufcature many new product such as stationary, paper, pens t shirts etc. In this way, dicarded palstic bottles can be recyled to and turned into useful items instead of being thrown away.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main stages accurately, from placing bottles in bins through collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating to make raw material. The overview also identifies the start and end points and highlights several key processes. Your account of the final stage is less complete: the diagram shows a range of end products, including containers, clothing and a carrier bag, whereas “stationary, paper, pens t shirts etc.” is partly inaccurate and does not clearly describe the examples shown. You also omit the diagram’s return arrow, which indicates that the process forms a cycle. Including this feature and describing the products more precisely would make the summary more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by stages in sequence, with paragraphing that helps separate the process. Linking expressions such as “At the first stage,” “Next,” and “After being cleaned” guide the reader through the steps. The progression is generally logical, though some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “The recyleable bottles are sepreated for unwanted waste” does not clearly explain the relationship between accepted and rejected bottles, and “At final stage” would benefit from a more natural transition. The final sentence repeats the idea of recycling rather than clearly linking the end products back to the beginning of the cycle. More precise referencing and smoother transitions would strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “washed,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” which allows the main stages to be understood. However, spelling errors are noticeable throughout, including “truning,” “dipsosal,” “recyling,” “manufcature,” and “palstic,” and these reduce the accuracy and ease of reading. Some word choices are imprecise or unsuitable: “stationary” does not describe the products shown, and “small plastic pellets” repeats “small” without adding useful detail. There are also awkward phrases such as “sepreated for unwanted waste.” Improve spelling and choose exact terms such as “stationery” only if appropriate, or name the diagram’s actual products. This would make your vocabulary more reliable and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “small pieces, which are subsequently washed” and a passive construction in “are then heated.” These structures suit a process description, and the sequence remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. The opening should be “The diagram displays,” and “the process consist” needs subject–verb agreement. In “Its involves” and “These bottle then collected,” the pronoun, plural and verb forms are incorrect; “before they converted” also needs a passive verb form. Articles are missing in phrases such as “At final stage.” Check agreement, passive forms and articles carefully, and proofread sentence boundaries and spacing to improve accuracy while retaining your range of structures.

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

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