How Glass Bottles Are Recycled
IELTS Writing Practice — AI-Powered Feedback
Writing Prompt
The diagram below shows the process by which used glass bottles are recycled into new ones. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The process is a cycle made up of seven stages. First, used glass bottles are collected from households and from bottle banks in public places. The collected glass is then transported by lorry to a recycling plant. At the plant, the glass is sorted by colour into clear, green and brown, and any items made of other materials, such as metal caps or plastic, are removed. The sorted glass is next washed to remove any remaining dirt, and then crushed into small pieces known as cullet. The cullet is melted in a furnace at a very high temperature, together with sand and other raw materials. Finally, the molten glass is poured into moulds to form new bottles, which are cooled, filled and sent back to shops, where the cycle can begin again.
Show Band 8–9 model answer
The diagram illustrates a seven-stage, cyclical process in which used glass bottles are collected, processed and eventually turned into new bottles for resale.
Overall, the process begins with the collection and transportation of waste glass and ends with new, refillable bottles being returned to shops. A key feature is that glass is repeatedly reused through a closed-loop system, with colour sorting and high-temperature melting as crucial intermediate stages.
The cycle starts when households and public bottle banks supply used bottles, which are then taken by lorry to a recycling plant. On arrival, the bottles undergo an initial sorting stage, during which they are separated into clear, green and brown glass, and all non-glass components such as plastic and metal are removed.
Following sorting, the glass is thoroughly washed to eliminate any remaining impurities. It is then crushed into small fragments, referred to as cullet. This cullet is combined with sand and other raw ingredients before being heated to an extremely high temperature in a furnace, producing molten glass.
In the final phase, this liquid glass is shaped into new bottles in moulds, cooled and filled with products. These finished bottles are then distributed back to shops, completing the cycle and allowing the process to begin again with subsequent consumer use.
Why this response works
This response would achieve a high band due to its clear overview, which highlights the cyclical nature of the process and identifies key stages such as sorting and melting. Task Achievement is strong: all seven stages are accurately described without adding unsupported information. Coherence and Cohesion are maintained through logical paragraphing and clear sequencing with cohesive devices. Lexical Resource is demonstrated through varied, topic-appropriate vocabulary (e.g. “closed-loop system”, “non-glass components”, “molten glass”). Grammatical Range and Accuracy are shown in accurate complex sentences and precise use of passive forms.
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