Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-20

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 illustrate the nine stages involved in the recycling procedure of bottles made up of plastic.

Overall, the method of recycling plastic bottles happens in nine stages starting from the collection of used plastic bottles from recycling bins or trash and ending into the manufacturing of products made up of plastic including bags, containers, bottles, stationery and clothing.

The firdt step of recycling process involves the mechenical picking and collection of used plastic bottles from trash containers or recycling bins which are then loaded and moved to the recycling centre. In the recycling centre, the bottles are arranged according to their shapes, sizes and color. These sorted bottles are then compressed into a variety of blocks by applying high pressure. The compressed plastic blocks are further crushed using rolling crushers and moved into a huge water container.

The crushed plastic pieces are washed throughly in the water container and then transferred to a pellets producing machine. This machine converts the crused plastic pieces into small plastic pellets. The pellets are then heated at high temperature to make raw material. This raw material is assembled on racks and is finally used to manufacture different plastic products for daily use which include, plastic food containers, stationary items like pens, plastic shopping bags, plastic water bottles and cloths.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the process from disposal and collection through sorting, processing and manufacture, and gives a clear overall summary that it has nine stages and ends with a range of products. Most details match the diagram, including compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. The account is extended with relevant descriptions, such as the conveyor-belt sorting and the final products. However, some details are added without support: the diagram does not say bottles are sorted by shape, size and colour, or that they are picked mechanically, and it shows raw material on a pallet rather than assembled on racks. Keep descriptions closely tied to visible information and avoid inferring methods or criteria that are not shown.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and two chronological body paragraphs, so the reader can follow the process from collection to finished goods. Sequencing expressions such as “The first step,” “then,” and “finally” help establish progression, and the division between initial processing and later manufacture is sensible. This is a coherent overall arrangement, but some linking is repetitive and the stages can feel like a list rather than a connected process. For example, several sentences begin with “The” or “These,” while the transition from the raw material to the products could be made more explicit. Use a wider range of natural links and clearer references to connect each stage without overusing repeated sentence openings.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is adequate vocabulary for describing the process, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets,” “raw material” and “manufacture.” These terms help communicate the main stages, and the response attempts some more specific language, such as “rolling crushers” and “high temperature.” However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “mechanical picking” is not shown, “arranged according to their shapes, sizes and color” adds unsupported detail, and “assembled on racks” does not describe the pallet in the diagram. Spelling errors such as “firdt,” “mechenical,” “throughly” and “crused” also limit control. Aim for precise process vocabulary and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including relative clauses (“which are then loaded and moved”) and passive constructions (“are then compressed,” “are then heated”). These structures suit a process description and the meaning is generally clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. The opening has subject–verb disagreement in “The diagram illustrate,” and the overview’s phrase “ending into the manufacturing” uses an incorrect construction. There are also issues with articles and number, as in “a pellets producing machine,” and the final list has awkward punctuation around “which include.” Review agreement, article use and sentence patterns after “end,” “include” and similar verbs. More consistent accuracy would make the process easier to read.

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

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