Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 by which plastic bottles are recycled and coverted into a variety of prodcuts.

Overall, the recycling process is initiated with the collection of used plastic bottles and undergoes several production processes and ended at the manufacturing of products. Some of these products can recycle agin for further use.

Firslty, the cycle is started with the disposal of used bottles at designated dustbins and collecting by a truck. After collecting, the bottles transported to the recycling center where sorting is carried out by hand. After sorting, the bottles are compressed into large blcocks before being crushing into small pieces.

In the following stages, the small pieces of plastic are being washed to remove the impurities, afterward washing process, the plastic is used to produce plastic pellets before heating them to form raw materials.

On the other hand, the raw materials are used to manufacturing a variety of products such as clothings and pencils. Some of these manufactured products can also recycle again for further use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main stages in a generally accurate sequence, from putting bottles in bins and collection by truck through sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. The overview also identifies the process as a cycle and notes that it produces a range of goods. However, some important details are less fully reported: the sorting stage separates acceptable bottles from rejected items, and the diagram shows raw material being made into several specific products, including containers, a T-shirt and a carrier bag. The claim that some finished products can be recycled again is not clearly shown as a separate stage; the loop returns from end products to the initial disposal point. More precise coverage of these features would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by stages grouped into two body paragraphs. Sequencing expressions such as “After collecting,” “After sorting” and “In the following stages” help the reader follow the process. The progression is mostly logical, but some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “On the other hand” suggests a contrast where the text is actually continuing the sequence, and “afterward washing process” does not connect the steps smoothly. The final paragraph also repeats the idea that products can be recycled again. Use more precise transitions and make the cycle’s return to the beginning explicit to strengthen cohesion and progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sorting,” “compressed,” “crushing,” “pellets” and “raw materials,” which allows the reader to understand most stages. There is some range in describing the process, but inaccurate word forms, spelling and collocations are noticeable and sometimes make the wording less clear. Examples include “coverted,” “prod cuts,” “blcocks,” “dustbins” and “clothings”; “designated dustbins” is also less natural than a more direct description of recycling bins. Phrases such as “used to manufacturing” and “recycle again” do not express the intended meaning idiomatically. Check spelling carefully and build a bank of accurate process collocations, such as “are transported to,” “are made into” and “recycled for further use.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including passive forms and clauses with “before,” as in “the bottles are compressed … before being crushing.” The sequence remains understandable, but errors in verb forms and sentence construction recur. For example, “the bottles transported” needs an auxiliary (“are transported”), while “the process … ended” does not maintain a consistent grammatical form with “is initiated.” In “the plastic is used to produce plastic pellets before heating them,” the reference of “them” is unclear, and “are used to manufacturing” has an incorrect verb pattern. Aim to control passive constructions consistently and check that each clause has a complete verb phrase and a clear subject. These corrections would improve accuracy while preserving your range.

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