The diagram below shows the process for recycling plastic bottles. Summarise information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
This question is from IELTS Cambridge 16.
Sample report
The diagram shows the various processes involved in the recycling of plastic bottles. The whole process consists of 9 steps. The first step is to collect discarded plastic bottles from trash cans. These bottles are then transported to the recycling centre in a truck. At the recycling centre, employees sort them into recyclable and non-recyclable bottles. The bottles that are not good for recycling are discarded. The useful, recyclable bottles are then compressed into blocks. These blocks are then crushed using a crusher into small pieces. These pieces are then washed thoroughly to remove all impurities. A machine converts these pieces into plastic pellets. These pellets are then heated to form the raw material. Using this raw material, various products like T-shirts, pencils, bags, food containers and bottles are made. The discarded bottles will again be collected and sent to recycling centres where they will undergo the whole process again and again.
How to go about writing this report?
Start the report with a sentence briefly explaining what the process is about. Do not repeat the exact same sentence from the task rubric. Express that idea in your own words.
A process diagram shows the various processes involved in doing something. When you write a report describing a process, it is better to use the passive voice. Study the sentences given below.
- These bottles are then transported to the recycling centres.
- They are then compressed into blocks.
Both of these sentences are in the passive voice. We use the passive voice when it is not necessary to mention who performed the action. Here the focus is on the action, not the doer.
It is also possible to express the same ideas in the active voice.
- Truck drivers transport these bottles to the recycling centres.
- Workers compress these bottles into blocks.
