Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

The Recycling Procedure for Glass Bottles in a Processing Plant

The flow chart below shows the recycling procedure for glass bottles.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

  1. 1.Glass bottles collected from public
  2. 2.Transportation
  3. 3.Classification of metal and plastic caps
  4. 4.Processing plant
  5. 5.Glass broken
  6. 6.Transportation by car
  7. 7.Mixing with raw materials
  8. 8.Furnace at 1200 degrees Celsius
  9. 9.Melted mixture
  10. 10.New bottles made at glass factory

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Band 8 sample answer

The provided flow chart illustrates the various stages involved in the recycling of glass bottles, starting from their initial collection from the public to the final production of new bottles at a glass factory.

Overall, the process is a multi-stage cycle that requires transportation, classification, and high-temperature treatment to transform used glass into new products. The procedure involves several distinct phases, including mechanical processing and chemical transformation.

Initially, glass bottles of different colours, specifically green, brown, and clear, are collected from the public. These are then transported to a facility where they undergo a classification stage to remove metal and plastic caps. Following this, the bottles are sent to a processing plant where they are broken down into smaller pieces. These broken glass fragments are then transported to a furnace, where they are combined with additional raw materials.

In the final stages, the mixture is heated to a temperature of 1200 degrees Celsius, resulting in a melted mixture. This molten substance is then utilised at the glass factory to manufacture new bottles, effectively completing the recycling loop. The entire process ensures that waste glass is efficiently repurposed into usable containers.

190 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about process diagrams

illustrates
shows or demonstrates something through a visual aid
multi-stage
consisting of several distinct phases or steps
subsequently
happening after something else in a sequence
utilised
made practical and effective use of something
repurposed
adapted for a different use or function
cycle
a series of events that repeat in order

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The recycling process is a cyclical sequence that begins with the collection of used glass bottles and concludes with the manufacturing of new ones at a factory.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How do I describe process diagrams?

Say how many stages there are and where the process starts and ends. Use the passive and sequencers: first, after this, once, finally. Keep every stage; a missing step costs task achievement.

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