Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-01

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 sequential diagram shows the procedure of recycling plastic bottles in nine different steps. This is a cyclic process by which plastic is recycled over and over again inorder to be used in daily life.

Firstly, the used plastic bottles are thrown into waste cans from where, the waste is transported to the recycling centres. Sorting is done in those recycling centres so that the plastic bottles could be seperated from other waste materials. Then these bottles are compressed into square shaped boxes by the help of a compresser, moreover the box-shaped compressed bottles are then crushed by a crushing machine.

These crushed plastic pieces are then soaked inside the water for washing purposes inorder to remove the dirt. After washing, plastic pellets are formed which are then heated inorder to create a raw material. Consequently, raw material is obtained by the heating process and this raw material is used to make plastic products such as plastic bottles, boxes, plastic bags, penicls and shirts which are used in everyday life. The process then goes on as it is a cyclic process which never ends.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages accurately, from disposal and collection through sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating, and the manufacture of new goods. It also identifies the key overall feature: the process is cyclical, noting that it “never ends.” The examples of end products broadly match the diagram. This meets the task well, though some details are less fully reported: for example, the sorting stage’s separation of accepted and rejected bottles is simplified as separation from “other waste materials,” and the final return from products to the recycling bin is not explicitly explained. To make the summary more complete, describe that loop-back link directly and keep the overview distinct from the stage-by-stage account.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a clear sequence, with an opening overview followed by stages in the order shown. Paragraphing separates the introduction from the process description, and connectors such as “Firstly,” “Then,” “After washing,” and “Consequently” help the reader follow the stages. The progression is generally coherent, although some linking is mechanical or repetitive: “inorder” recurs, and “Consequently” introduces a result that largely repeats the preceding statement about heating and raw material. The final sentence signals a cycle but does not clearly connect the end products back to the first stage. Use a wider range of precise transitions and make that final link explicit to strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is adequate vocabulary for describing the process, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets,” and “raw material,” and the writer attempts some task-specific terms. Meaning remains clear throughout. However, several choices are imprecise or awkward for a process diagram: “waste cans” is less suitable than “recycling bins,” “square shaped boxes” does not accurately describe the compressed blocks, and “soaked inside the water” is an unnatural collocation. Spelling errors such as “seperated” and “penicls” also limit accuracy. Aim for precise process vocabulary and check spelling; this would make the description more natural and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including a relative clause in “from where, the waste is transported” and a purpose clause in “so that the plastic bottles could be separated.” Most stages are expressed clearly, and the passive voice is appropriate for describing a process. Some grammatical and punctuation errors remain, however. The comma after “from where” is unnecessary, and “by the help of a compresser” has an awkward grammatical construction. The repeated form “inorder” should be written as two words, “in order,” and the long final sentence would benefit from clearer clause boundaries. More consistent control of these structures would improve accuracy.

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