Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-18

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 illustrates how plastic bottles are recycled.

Overall, it's a cyclic process that begins with the individuals throwing plastic items into the bins and ends with the manufacturing of range of plastic goods.

Initially,the process starts when plastic bottles are disposed off by people in recycling bins following by transferring of these bottles into the recycling plants. At recycling centre, workers sort out the specific bottles that are required for further processing.

After sorting, these bottles are given a specific shape for that they are compressed into blocks. Then these blocks are broken down into pieces with the help of a crusher. In these mini particles, water is added to remove any impurities. After this these particles are added to a machine that produces plastic pellets which are heated to form raw material. This raw material is used to make a large range of plastic items including bottles, shopping bags, pencils, boxes and a lot more.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the cycle and reports the main stages in the correct order, from disposal and collection through sorting, processing, and the production of new goods. It also includes relevant details such as compression, crushing, washing, pellet production, and heating to create raw material. The examples of end products broadly match the diagram. To make the account more complete and precise, explain that sorting separates suitable bottles from unsuitable ones, and mention that the finished products feed back into the recycling cycle. Some descriptions, such as saying the bottles are given a “specific shape,” are less exact than the diagram’s description of compressing them into blocks.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is organised in a clear sequence, with an opening statement, an overview, and a chronological account of the stages. Linking expressions such as “Initially,” “After sorting,” “Then,” and “After this” help the reader follow the process. The progression is generally easy to understand, and the final sentence connects the raw material to the products made from it. Cohesion is not always fully smooth, however: several transitions rely on similar time markers, and the final return from end products to the start of the cycle is not explicitly stated. More varied links and a clearer reference to the loop would make the organisation feel more fully integrated.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crusher,” “impurities,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” which helps describe the stages clearly. There are also some imprecise or unnatural choices: “disposed off” is not the appropriate expression here, “specific bottles” is vague, and “a large range” is less natural than “a wide range.” “Mini particles” is understandable but not a precise description of the crushed plastic. These choices do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, but more accurate collocations and terminology would improve precision. Aim to use the diagram’s labels where they are clear, such as “sorting,” “compressing into blocks,” and “plastic pellets.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview clause “that begins with…” and the sequence of clauses describing how the material is processed. Most sentences communicate the stages successfully, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “manufacturing of range” needs an article, “Initially,the” lacks a space after the comma, and “following by transferring” uses an incorrect verb form and construction. The sentence beginning “In these mini particles” also has an unclear grammatical relationship between the particles and the addition of water. Review articles, verb patterns, and punctuation, while keeping the useful range of sentence structures already attempted.

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