Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-25

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 recycling process of the used plastic bottles. Overall, the recycling process is divided into 9 stages from trash to finally made products for dailly life.

First of all, peope throw the used plastic bottles into the bin. After this phase, the trush is collected by the truck on every morning. Then it send to the recycling centre, where the right and wrong used plastic bottles is sorted by workers. The sorted plastic bottles is sent to the compressing machines where it is compressed and forms the bolcks.

Fifthly, these compressed blocks are crushed by using grinder and washed the crashing particles by using water in pot. After this phase, the crushed particles converted into plastic pelletes by using the machine.Furthermore, these plastic pelletes are heated and form raw material and then converted into raw materal blocks. Finally, The clothes, stationary and plastic materials are made from these raw material blocks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the diagram as a nine-stage recycling process and give a clear overall summary, moving from disposal to the production of new goods. Most central stages are included in the correct order: collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production and heating. This covers the main process, though some details are less fully reported. In particular, the account omits the final arrow showing that end products can return to the recycling bin, so the closed-loop nature of the process is not made clear. The description of sorting as separating “right and wrong” bottles is also imprecise; explain that recyclable bottles are selected from unsuitable items. Naming examples of the end products would make the final stage more informative.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a coherent overall sequence, and the paragraph break separates the initial stages from later processing. Sequencing expressions such as “First of all,” “After this phase,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and “Fifthly” is awkward because the stages are not consistently numbered in the prose. The second paragraph also ends without explaining the diagram’s return arrow, leaving the cycle incomplete. Some links between stages could be clearer: for example, state explicitly that the washed crushed plastic is made into pellets, then heated to produce raw material. Grouping the stages into a clear beginning, processing sequence and circular conclusion would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “recycling centre,” “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets” and “raw material,” which allows the main stages to be understood. There is also some attempt to vary wording, such as “collected” and “converted.” However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate or imprecise: “trash” is less suitable than “plastic bottles” or “waste,” “right and wrong” does not clearly describe sorting, and “pot” does not accurately name the washing bath. Spelling errors such as “dailly,” “peope,” “bolcks,” “pelletes” and “materal” are noticeable. Use precise process terms consistently and check spelling, especially for key vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple sentences and longer clauses, including a relative clause in “where the right and wrong used plastic bottles is sorted by workers.” However, control of sentence structure and verb forms is uneven. Subject–verb agreement is incorrect in “it send,” “bottles is sorted” and “bottles is sent”; the passive construction should use forms such as “are sent” and “are sorted.” The sentence “the crushed particles converted into plastic pelletes” is missing an auxiliary verb, while “washed the crashing particles” does not form a complete, accurate clause. Capitalisation is also inconsistent, as in “Finally, The.” Aim for accurate passive forms throughout, since they are especially useful for describing a process, and proofread each sentence for a complete verb structure.

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