Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-21

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 stages involved in recycling plastics bottles.

Overall, the process consist of nine subsequent stages, beginning with throwing plastic bottles in bin, and ending with producing end products.

First, the bottles are stored in bin, due to throwing by people and then it is transferred to recycling center with the help of garbage truck, where it is sorted. Next the bottles are compressed in to blocks. After that the block are crushed by machine in to small plastic fragments and then transferred for washing.

Once the wash has been done, the plastic granules shifted to other machine, which produced plastic pallets. Following this, the produce pallets is heated and form a raw material in the rectangular shape and finally the new products are produced from that raw material.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a sequence and give a basic overview, correctly noting that it starts with bottles being put in a bin and ends with products being made. Most of the main stages are included, from collection and sorting through crushing, washing and producing raw material. However, the response is under the required 150 words, and some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows plastic pellets being produced before they are heated, whereas your account says granules are shifted to a machine that produces “plastic pallets.” You also omit the final return arrow that makes this a closed loop, and the examples of end products. Add these features and clarify the stage order to cover the process more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction, an overview, and a chronological description. Sequencing expressions such as “First,” “Next,” “After that,” and “Following this” help the reader follow the stages, and the process is generally presented in the right order. This coherent progression meets the lower-band expectations and shows some control beyond a basic list. To make the organisation more effective, separate the stages into clearer sentences and use references consistently; for example, “the block” and “the produce pallets” make it harder to identify what is being described. A final sentence noting that the process loops back to bottle disposal would also give the account a more complete ending.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “fragments,” “washing,” and “raw material,” so the reader can understand the general sequence. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, which keeps the description from being consistently precise. “Plastic pallets” appears to mean “plastic pellets,” while “the produce pallets” is unclear; “stored in bin” also does not accurately describe people placing bottles in a recycling bin. Some phrases, such as “with the help of garbage truck,” are understandable but not natural for this context. Aim for precise recycling terminology and check collocations and word forms, especially when naming materials and machinery.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, including a sequence with “Once the wash has been done” and a relative clause beginning “which produced…”. The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles, plurals and verb forms occur across the response. For example, “the process consist” should be “the process consists,” and “the block are crushed” should be “the blocks are crushed.” In “the produce pallets is heated and form,” the subject and verbs do not agree, and the passive construction is incomplete. Articles are also missing in phrases such as “in bin” and “with the help of garbage truck.” Practise accurate passive forms for describing processes and proofread each clause for agreement.

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

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