The diagram below illustrates the stages involved in recycling plastic bottles into reusable pellets at a facility in Vietnam. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The diagram shows six sequential stages at a Vietnamese recycling plant that turn used plastic bottles into reusable pellets, from collection through to storage and distribution.
This 6.5 answer covers all six stages accurately but relies on a simple 'because' clause and generic details like 'dirt or labels' rather than the technical vocabulary ('sterilisation', 'contaminants') and combined sentence structures the 7.5 answer uses.
The diagram shows the process of turning used plastic bottles into reusable pellets at a recycling factory in Vietnam, from collection to storage.
Overall, this is a linear process with six stages. It starts with collecting and sorting the bottles, and it ends when the finished pellets are stored and sent out for use.
First, plastic bottles are collected and then sorted. After that, they are washed and sterilised to remove any dirt or labels. This step is important because it makes the bottles clean before the next stage. Next, the clean bottles are shredded and ground into small pieces of plastic.
Then, these small pieces are melted, and they are also filtered at the same time to remove any remaining dirt. After this, the melted plastic is turned into small pellets and left to cool down. Finally, the pellets are stored and then sent out so that they can be used again in manufacturing.
Collocations
Examiner Notes
- TR“Overall, this is a linear process with six stages. It starts with collecting and sorting the bottles, and it ends when the finished pellets are stored and sent out for use.” — Correctly identifies the process type, stage count, and the first and last stages, though in plainer wording than the 7.5 overview.
- LR“they are washed and sterilised to remove any dirt or labels” — "Washed and sterilised" is accurate but the supporting detail ("dirt or labels") is more generic than the 7.5 answer's technical term "contaminants".
- GRA“This step is important because it makes the bottles clean before the next stage.” — A simple "because" clause is grammatically correct but far plainer than the 7.5 answer's appositive-plus-relative-clause construction.
- CC“After that, they are washed and sterilised to remove any dirt or labels.” — The basic sequencing marker "After that" links stages clearly but is repeated rather than varied across the essay.
- TR“Finally, the pellets are stored and then sent out so that they can be used again in manufacturing.” — Correctly closes at the diagram's final stage, matching the process's actual endpoint.
This 7.0 answer introduces technical vocabulary such as 'contaminants' and a passive time clause with an appositive ('a process which breaks them down...'), but its sentences are still slightly less densely packed than the 7.5 answer's appositive-plus-relative-clause construction.
The diagram illustrates how used plastic bottles are converted into reusable pellets at a recycling facility in Vietnam, covering the six stages from initial collection to final storage.
Overall, this is a linear process consisting of six stages, beginning with the collection and sorting of used bottles and finishing with the storage and distribution of the finished pellets for reuse.
In the first stage, plastic bottles are collected and sorted, before being washed and sterilised in order to remove contaminants such as labels and food residue. Once this cleaning stage is complete, the bottles are shredded and ground, a process which breaks them down into smaller, more manageable fragments of plastic ready for further treatment.
These fragments are then melted, with filtering carried out at the same time to eliminate any remaining impurities. The resulting molten plastic is formed into small, uniform pellets during the pelletisation stage and subsequently allowed to cool. Finally, once cooled, the finished pellets are stored before being distributed for use in manufacturing across Vietnam.
Collocations
Examiner Notes
- TR“Overall, this is a linear process consisting of six stages, beginning with the collection and sorting of used bottles and finishing with the storage and distribution of the finished pellets for reuse.” — A well-formed overview that names the process type, stage count, and bookends it with first and last stages, close to the 7.5 model.
- LR“before being washed and sterilised in order to remove contaminants such as labels and food residue” — Uses the technical term "contaminants" accurately, showing stronger topic-specific lexical resource than the 6.5 answer's generic "dirt or labels".
- GRA“Once this cleaning stage is complete, the bottles are shredded and ground, a process which breaks them down into smaller, more manageable fragments of plastic ready for further treatment.” — A passive time clause followed by an appositive and relative clause packs two ideas into one sentence, echoing the 7.5 answer's structure.
- CC“These fragments are then melted, with filtering carried out at the same time to eliminate any remaining impurities.” — The "with + -ed clause" device links two simultaneous actions smoothly, a more sophisticated cohesive tool than the 6.5 answer's plain "and they are also".
- TR“Finally, once cooled, the finished pellets are stored before being distributed for use in manufacturing across Vietnam.” — Correctly closes at the diagram's final stage, with the added subordinate clause giving slightly more cohesion than a 6.5-level closing sentence.
This 7.5 answer is distinguished by its precise technical vocabulary ('sterilisation', 'contaminants') and by packing a passive relative clause into an appositive noun phrase ('a process during which they are also filtered...'), giving it noticeably more sophisticated sentence construction than the lower bands.
The diagram illustrates the process by which used plastic bottles are converted into reusable pellets at a recycling facility in Vietnam, such as those operating in the industrial zones of Binh Duong and Dong Nai province.
Overall, the process comprises six distinct, entirely linear stages, beginning with the collection and initial sorting of used bottles and culminating in the storage and distribution of the finished recycled product.
Initially, plastic bottles are gathered and subsequently sorted, presumably by type or colour, to prepare them for further processing. Following this, they undergo a thorough washing and sterilisation procedure, which is crucial for removing any contaminants such as food residue or labels. Once cleaned, the bottles are subjected to shredding and grinding, transforming them into smaller, more manageable plastic fragments.
The subsequent stage involves melting these plastic fragments, a process during which they are also filtered to eliminate impurities. This molten plastic is then moved to the pelletisation and cooling phase, where it is formed into small, uniform pellets and allowed to solidify. Finally, these newly formed recycled plastic pellets are prepared for storage and distribution, making them ready for reuse in manufacturing across Vietnam's growing plastics industry.
Collocations
Examiner Notes
- TR“Overall, the process comprises six distinct, entirely linear stages, beginning with the collection and initial sorting of used bottles and culminating in the storage and distribution of the finished recycled product.” — A model process-overview sentence: names the process type, the stage count, and bookends it with the first and last stages.
- LR“they undergo a thorough washing and sterilisation procedure, which is crucial for removing any contaminants such as food residue or labels” — Technical, field-appropriate vocabulary ("sterilisation", "contaminants") is used accurately, showing strong topic-specific lexical resource.
- GRA“The subsequent stage involves melting these plastic fragments, a process during which they are also filtered to eliminate impurities.” — A noun-phrase appositive ("a process during which...") introduces a passive relative clause to add a secondary detail without a new sentence.
- CC“Once cleaned, the bottles are subjected to shredding and grinding, transforming them into smaller, more manageable plastic fragments.” — The reduced clause "Once cleaned" efficiently links back to the previous stage (washing) before introducing the new one, keeping the sequence cohesive.
- TR“these newly formed recycled plastic pellets are prepared for storage and distribution, making them ready for reuse in manufacturing across Vietnam's growing plastics industry” — Correctly ends the description at the diagram's final labelled output stage, matching the overview's stated endpoint.