Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-24

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 the process of recycling plastic bottles by sorting, crushing and heating.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that it is a multi-stage cyclical process completing in nine major steps. Process begins with sorting the plastic bottles from the garbadge and concludes with producing the end products from raw materials.

A lot of plastic bottles are thrown into waste which is collected by the garbadge trucks. At recycling centre, plastic bottles are sorted from other wastes. All of the sorted bottles then compressed into the huge blocks before sending it to the crushing machine.

The huge blocks of plastic is crushed with the help of industrial cutter, crushed pieces are being washed in a large containor to remove impurities. An industrial machine is required to produce plastic pellets which is then heated at high temperature to make raw material. Piles of raw material are ready which will be futher use to make plastic end products like shopping bags, bottles or t-shirts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main stages and give a clear overview of the nine-stage cycle, from bottles being discarded to end products being made from raw material. The sequence of collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating is generally reported accurately, and examples such as bags, bottles and T-shirts are supported by the diagram. However, the opening says the process begins with “sorting,” whereas it actually starts when a person puts bottles in a recycling bin; sorting occurs later at the centre. “A lot” of bottles and “other wastes” are not specified in the visual, and the description could clarify that unsuitable items are rejected during sorting. More precise coverage of these details would make the account more complete and consistently accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a sensible sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by the early collection stages and then the processing and end products. This gives the reader a clear overall progression, and linking expressions such as “before,” “then” and “which” help connect steps. The overview’s claim that the process is cyclical is useful, although the final paragraph does not explicitly return to the first stage to explain how the loop closes. Some connections are also slightly awkward, particularly “Piles of raw material are ready which will be further use,” where the relationship between the material and its next use is unclear. Use more precise stage-to-stage links and a concluding reference to the cycle to strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “impurities,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which helps describe the stages without excessive repetition. There are also relevant examples of end products. However, some choices are imprecise or informal for an academic process description: “garbadge trucks” is not the right term for the collection vehicle, and “industrial cutter” does not accurately describe the crushing equipment shown. Spelling errors such as “containor” and “futher” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, diagram-based terms and check spelling; for example, describe the bottles as being collected by a recycling truck and crushed by machinery rather than adding an unsupported equipment label.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including relative clauses such as “which is then heated” and time or sequence clauses such as “before sending it to the crushing machine.” The overall meaning remains understandable, but errors in agreement, articles and passive constructions occur across the response. Examples include “Process begins” instead of “The process begins,” “All of the sorted bottles then compressed” instead of “are then compressed,” and “The huge blocks of plastic is crushed” instead of “are crushed.” In “which is then heated,” the plural noun “pellets” also requires “which are then heated.” Practise forming consistent passive sentences for each stage and check that verbs agree with their subjects.

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