The diagram shows the design of a modern landfill for household waste.
Sample Response
The given diagrams provide an illustration of a modern landfill for household wastes. Overall, a typical landfill is a man-made hole dug on a solid, two-layer base in which household refuse is kept and toxic liquids are removed from the landfill by the use of a system of pipes.
The construction of a landfill commences when a large hole is dug out of a site with natural rock underneath. The bottom of the hole is thereafter covered with a layer of clay and another layer of unspecified synthetic substance. A drainage tank which is a box-shaped compartment dug through the two aforementioned layers and a set of drainage pipes are also installed.
When used, the landfill is filled up with household waste, with the leachate being extracted and eventually flowing out of the site in liners. Once the rubbish has been converted into a mud-like compound, the landfill is sealed with clay, and gases that are emitted as a result of the conversion is eventually pumped out to an unspecified zone
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use singular form Original: diagrams Suggested revision: diagram Why it matters: The visual is one diagram containing several stages.
- 2. Use uncountable noun Original: wastes Suggested revision: waste Why it matters: Waste is uncountable when referring generally to household refuse.
- 3. Describe construction accurately Original: dug on a solid, two-layer base Suggested revision: dug into natural rock and lined with two layers Why it matters: The diagram shows a hole in natural rock with clay and synthetic linings rather than a two-layer base.
- 4. Avoid unsupported description Original: toxic liquids Suggested revision: waste liquid Why it matters: The diagram labels waste liquid but does not identify it as toxic.
- 5. Include the side lining Original: The bottom of the hole Suggested revision: The bottom and sides of the hole Why it matters: The illustration shows the clay and synthetic layers extending around the sides as well as the bottom.
- 6. Name the drainage route Original: in liners Suggested revision: through the drainage pipes Why it matters: The visual shows waste liquid being carried by drainage pipes, not flowing out in liners.
- 7. Remove invented conversion Original: the rubbish has been converted into a mud-like compound Suggested revision: the landfill is full Why it matters: The closure stage follows filling, while no conversion into a mud-like substance is shown.
- 8. Fix agreement and detail Original: is eventually pumped out to an unspecified zone Suggested revision: are released through pipes Why it matters: The plural subject gases requires are, and the diagram shows pipes rather than an unspecified destination.
- 9. Use a direct verb Original: provide an illustration of Suggested revision: illustrate Why it matters: A direct reporting verb makes the introduction more concise.
- 10. Use concise purpose wording Original: in which household refuse is kept Suggested revision: designed to hold household waste Why it matters: This phrase expresses the landfill's function more directly.
- 11. Reduce wordiness Original: by the use of Suggested revision: through Why it matters: The single preposition conveys the same means more concisely.
- 12. Use process terminology Original: thereafter covered Suggested revision: then lined Why it matters: Lined describes the application of clay and synthetic material more precisely.
Suggested Rewrites
- diagrams diagram
- wastes waste
- dug on a solid, two-layer base dug into natural rock and lined with two layers
- toxic liquids waste liquid
- The bottom of the hole The bottom and sides of the hole
- in liners through the drainage pipes
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response has a clear overview and follows the landfill from construction through use to closure in a generally logical sequence. Its main weakness is technical accuracy: it invents the waste becoming a mud-like compound and confuses the route of the liquid waste, while some construction details are imprecise. The priority is to describe only the labelled stages and distinguish drainage of leachate from the separate gas outlet.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The principal stages and several key components are identified, but invented conversion details and inaccurate descriptions of drainage limit task accuracy.
State that liquid waste drains through the tank and pipes during use, then describe clay sealing and gas removal at closure without adding an unsupported transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response moves clearly from construction to use and closure, with sensible paragraphing and generally effective sequencing.
Make the final paragraph's progression more explicit by separating the use stage from the closure stage.
Lexical Resource
There is a good range of process vocabulary, although choices such as in liners, mud-like compound, and unspecified zone are imprecise or unsupported.
Use the diagram's exact functional terms, including drainage pipes, drainage tank, liquid waste, clay cover, and gas pipes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied sentence structures are generally clear, but errors in articles, agreement, and clause construction remain noticeable.
Check noun-phrase articles and subject-verb agreement, particularly in phrases such as a synthetic substance and gases that are emitted are pumped out.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The diagram shows the design of a modern landfill for household waste.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.