Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-13

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 the process of recycling plastic bottles.

Considering it from an overall perspective, it can be comprehensively observed that this process contains eight main steps. Begins with collecting plastic bottles and ends with producing products. Noticeably, this is never ending recycling process.

To begin with, the used plastics bottles are thrown into the recycle bins and when the bins fully field. The garbage truck comes to collect it. After that, the collected plastic items are sorted manually for the next step which is compressing where the bottles are compress into blocks. The blocks are then crushed.

Furthermore, the crushed material after wash sent to machine where its converted into plastic pallets. The pallets are then heated at high temperature to form raw material and finally from the raw material the disposable products like bottles, t-shirts, bags , pencil and lunch boxes are made and after the usage the items are thrown into recycle bins and the process never ends.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and give a relevant overview, noting that the process begins with bottles being placed in bins, ends with products being made, and then continues as a loop. Most of the sequence is accurately reported, including sorting, compressing, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. However, the overview says there are “eight main steps,” whereas the diagram shows nine numbered stages, and the collection stage is described as happening only “when the bins fully field,” a detail not shown. The final products are also called “disposable,” which is not specified. To strengthen the response, report the number of stages accurately and describe the sorting and final products without adding unsupported details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction and overview are followed by the early and later stages in sequence. Paragraphing helps distinguish the overview from the process description, and connectors such as “To begin with,” “After that,” and “Furthermore” guide the reader. This meets the lower-band expectations securely and shows some of the flexibility associated with stronger cohesion. However, the final paragraph packs many stages into one long sentence, and “finally” is followed by the return to the bins without a clear separation. The reference in “the process never ends” is understandable but repetitive after the overview. Use shorter sentences and clearer links between the production stage and the loop back to collection.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “sorted,” “compressing,” “crushed,” “heated,” and “raw material,” so the stages are generally easy to understand. There are also attempts at more specific terms, such as “manually” and “high temperature.” Some word-choice, spelling and collocation errors reduce precision: “recycle bins” is less natural than “recycling bins,” “plastic pallets” should be “plastic pellets,” and “fully field” appears to mean “fully filled.” “Disposable products” is also an unsupported description of the items shown. These inaccuracies do not prevent the reader from following the process, but careful checking of technical terms and natural collocations would make the account more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a sequence with “After that” and a clause beginning “where,” and the overall meaning remains understandable. However, errors in verb forms, sentence construction and agreement are noticeable. For example, “Begins with collecting plastic bottles” is a sentence fragment; “the bottles are compress into blocks” needs a past participle; and “after wash sent to machine where its converted” lacks necessary grammatical elements. The opening overview also shifts from “it can be observed” to “Begins,” while “this is never ending recycling process” is missing an article. Aim for complete sentences with a consistent passive structure, such as “The bottles are compressed into blocks” and “The washed material is sent to a machine.”

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.