Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-22

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 plastic bottles undergo for recycling them.

Overall it is a 9 step process cycle which never ends. The recycling process commenced by collecting the plastic bottles and transporting them to recycling centre to produce raw materials by compressing the plastic than crushing. After crushing plastic pallets are produced which are heated to form raw product which is than used to make end products.

Initially when a human dumped a plastic bottles into recycling bin from which a huge truck collected the plastic bottles. These trucks are used to tranport the plastic bottles to recycling centre in which they are sorted and compressed into plastic blocks. Furthermore, these plastic blocks are crusdhed into tiny plastic which is than washed. Moreover, the washed plastic is collected and put into the machine to produce plastic pallets. Plastic pallets are heated to form raw material. The raw material stacked on top of one another. Ultimately, the raw material produced is used in the production of recycling bags, pencils, clothes, food containers and plastic bottles. The cycles does not stopped and these end products are then dumped into recyclings bins after usage for recycling process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main stages and give a clear overview that the process is cyclical, moving from collection through processing to new products. The sequence from sorting and compressing to crushing, washing, pellet production, heating and end products is mostly represented, and you correctly note that bottles return to the recycling bin after use. This captures much of the diagram’s key information. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: “produce raw materials by compressing the plastic than crushing” makes the order and purpose difficult to follow, and “the raw material stacked on top of one another” does not clearly identify the palletised material shown. To strengthen the response further, describe the stages more precisely and distinguish the raw material from the finished products.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a chronological account of the stages. Sequencing words such as “Initially,” “Furthermore,” “Moreover,” and “Ultimately” help the reader follow the process. However, the overview repeats information that is then explained in the body, and some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “from which a huge truck collected” leaves the relationship between the bin and truck awkwardly expressed, while “The cycles does not stopped” interrupts the final transition back to the beginning. Organise the body into clearer stages and use references such as “these bottles” or “the resulting material” carefully, so each link between stages is explicit and the progression feels smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling centre,” “sorted,” “compressed,” “washed,” “raw material,” and “end products,” which allows you to describe the diagram’s main stages. There is also some attempt to vary wording, such as “transporting” and “production.” However, spelling and word-choice problems are noticeable: “tranport,” “crusdhed,” and “pallets” (for plastic pellets) reduce accuracy, while “huge truck” is informal and “recycling bags” does not match the diagram’s carrier bag. Repetition of “plastic bottles” and “raw material” also limits flexibility. Aim for precise process terms and check spelling and collocations, especially for technical nouns and the names of the products shown.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “the raw material produced is used…” and a sequence of linked stages. The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles, verb forms and sentence construction are frequent enough to affect clarity. Examples include “a plastic bottles,” “The cycles does not stopped,” and “which is than used,” as well as the fragment-like “The raw material stacked on top of one another.” Some long sentences also combine several stages without secure grammatical control. Practise accurate singular and plural forms, past participles, and complete clauses; then use shorter sentences to report each stage before attempting more complex links.

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