The diagram below shows the process for recycling plastic bottles.
Sample Response
The diagram illustrates the plastic bottle recycling procedure and the different steps involved in this recycling process.
Overall, the process of recycling plastic bottles has nine steps, starting from placing the bottles in the designated bins to producing end-consumer products like bags, t-shirts, pencils and so on.
As the illustration depicts, the first step of recycling plastic bottles begins with people placing used plastic bottles in specified recycle bins. Next, those bottles are collected and transported to recycling centres where workers sort out recyclable plastic bottles. Selected bottles are then compressed and converted into large blocks which are, afterwards, sent through crushing machines. The crushing process produces small plastic pieces which are then washed before feeding them into a machine to make plastic pellets. In the next step, heat is applied to the pellets that ultimately form the raw materials for producing different plastic-made consumer goods. Next, the raw materials are refined and rolled which is used to manufacture end products like t-shirts, pens, plastic bottles, containers, and so on. To reiterate the recycling process, the end products are placed in the designated bins once they get torn out or used. It keeps the plastic recycling process going.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove repetition Original: plastic bottle recycling procedure and the different steps involved in this recycling process Suggested revision: plastic-bottle recycling process and its stages Why it matters: This concise phrase avoids repeating process and recycling in the same sentence.
- 2. Use process phrasing Original: has nine steps Suggested revision: consists of nine stages Why it matters: Consists of is a more precise way to describe the stages in a process.
- 3. Improve endpoint wording Original: starting from placing the bottles Suggested revision: beginning with the disposal of bottles Why it matters: This noun phrase states the first stage more formally and concisely.
- 4. Use natural terminology Original: end-consumer products Suggested revision: consumer products Why it matters: Consumer products is the standard expression for the items shown at the final stage.
- 5. Remove vague wording Original: and so on Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: The listed examples already make the endpoint clear, so this vague phrase is unnecessary.
- 6. Avoid a repeated beginning Original: begins with people placing Suggested revision: begins when people place Why it matters: The revised clause avoids the awkward combination of step, begins, and placing.
- 7. Use the correct noun Original: specified recycle bins Suggested revision: designated recycling bins Why it matters: Recycling is the correct modifier for bins intended to collect recyclable material.
- 8. Use a direct reference Original: those bottles Suggested revision: the bottles Why it matters: The definite article links directly to the bottles introduced in the preceding sentence.
- 9. Clarify the sorting stage Original: sort out recyclable plastic bottles Suggested revision: separate recyclable bottles from non-recyclable ones Why it matters: The diagram shows a sorting stage in which unsuitable bottles are removed.
- 10. Fix sequence punctuation Original: which are, afterwards, sent Suggested revision: which are then sent Why it matters: Then expresses the sequence cleanly without unnecessary commas around afterwards.
- 11. Use natural word order Original: small plastic pieces Suggested revision: small pieces of plastic Why it matters: This phrasing is more natural for the crushed material shown in the diagram.
- 12. Correct the compound phrase Original: plastic-made consumer goods Suggested revision: plastic products Why it matters: Plastic products is the natural term for goods made from the recycled material.
Suggested Rewrites
- plastic bottle recycling procedure and the different steps involved in this recycling process plastic-bottle recycling process and its stages
- has nine steps consists of nine stages
- starting from placing the bottles beginning with the disposal of bottles
- end-consumer products consumer products
- and so on Delete
- begins with people placing begins when people place
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives a clear overview and follows all nine stages in a logical order, accurately covering collection, sorting, compression, crushing, washing, pellet production, heating and manufacture. Its main limitation is occasional imprecise or awkward phrasing, particularly around the raw-material stage and the reuse cycle; prioritise more exact process verbs and cleaner reference so every stage is described naturally.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The overview identifies the nine-stage cycle, and the body accurately covers virtually every stage shown in the diagram.
Describe stage eight simply as the formation of raw material before end products, avoiding the unsupported claim that it is refined and rolled.
Coherence and Cohesion
Clear paragraphing and chronological sequencing make the process easy to follow from disposal through the production of new goods.
Vary transitions and integrate the final cyclical link more smoothly instead of relying repeatedly on 'Next'.
Lexical Resource
A good range of process vocabulary is used, though phrases such as 'plastic-made consumer goods', 'torn out' and 'reiterate the recycling process' are imprecise.
Choose standard process collocations such as 'recycling bins', 'plastic products' and 'worn out or used up'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex structures are mostly accurate, with only occasional agreement and reference problems such as 'raw materials ... which is used'.
Check that relative clauses agree clearly with their antecedents and keep passive process structures concise.