Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-04

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 of recycling the plastic containers. Overall, it is apparent that there are 9 steps involved which is started with the collection of plastic waste and ended up with manufacturing of new products.

Firstly, the plastic bottles are used by the consumers and then throw into the recycle bin, after that garbage truck collected the waste from bins and then transported to recycling centre. Where used plastic containers sorted and separated from other waste. Subsequently, the sorted plasted waste compressed into the blocks form by applying the high pressure on waste. And the compressed blocks crushed down into small size particles with the help of crusher, after that crush materials wash into the water.

Afterwards, the crushed materials poured into pellet machine to convert into pellet machine and then pellets are heated at high temperature to form raw material. Different products are manufactured from the raw materials such as plastic bottles, boxes, pencils, shirts, and recycling bags.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response gives a clear account of the main sequence, from bottles being placed in a bin through collection, sorting, processing and the manufacture of new products. The overview identifies the start and end of the cycle, and most stages are reported in the correct order. It also includes relevant examples of the final products. However, some details are incomplete or unclear: the sorting stage’s separation of suitable bottles from unsuitable material is only broadly described, and the account does not explicitly explain that the process loops back to the recycling bin. The description of pellet production is also imprecise. This covers the task well overall, but fuller and more precise reporting of these features would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a sensible sequence, with an overview followed by stages introduced through “Firstly,” “Subsequently,” and “Afterwards.” This makes the process generally easy to follow, and the paragraph break helps distinguish the overview from the detailed account. Some linking is mechanical, however, particularly the repeated use of “and then” and “after that.” The sentence beginning “Where used plastic containers…” is a fragment, which interrupts the progression from the collection stage to sorting. The final sentence also moves directly to the products without clearly signalling that the cycle returns to its beginning. More varied, accurate transitions and clearer links between stages would strengthen the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “compressed,” “crushed,” “pellets,” “raw material,” and “manufactured,” which helps communicate the stages. The writer also attempts more specific language such as “high pressure” and “crusher.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “recycle bin” is less natural than “recycling bin,” “pellet machine” is repeated and does not clearly express the conversion into pellets, and “recycling bags” may misidentify the carrier bag shown. “Plasted” is a spelling error, while “small size particles” is an awkward phrase. Greater precision in naming materials, equipment and products would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction occur across the account. For example, “there are 9 steps involved which is started” has an agreement and passive-form problem; “garbage truck collected” lacks an appropriate article and tense; and “Where used plastic containers sorted” is an incomplete sentence with a missing auxiliary. Later, “crush materials wash into the water” and “materials poured” also need correctly formed passive verbs. The long sequence of clauses joined by “and then” makes these problems more noticeable. Practise accurate passive constructions for process descriptions and check each clause for a subject and a correctly formed verb.

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