IELTS Academic Writing · Practice test
Glass recycling: IELTS Academic Writing practice test
A cycle diagram of how glass bottles are recycled, then an essay on spending on wildlife protection.
- Academic
- Task 1 · Task 2
- 60 minutes
Writing Task 1 · 20 minutes · 150 words
Cycle diagram: Environment
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram below shows how glass bottles are recycled.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Recycled glass can be melted repeatedly without any loss of quality.
Cycle diagram: The recycling of glass bottles (6 stages, returning to the first) 1. Collection — Used bottles are collected from homes and bottle banks and taken to a recycling plant 2. Sorting — Bottles are sorted by colour; metal caps, labels and other contaminants are removed 3. Crushing — The clean glass is crushed into small pieces called cullet 4. Melting — Cullet is mixed with sand, soda ash and limestone and melted in a furnace at 1,500 °C 5. Moulding — The molten glass is blown or pressed into moulds to form new bottles, then cooled 6. Refilling — The new bottles are filled, sold and used, and the cycle begins again Note: Recycled glass can be melted repeatedly without any loss of quality.
Writing Task 2 · 40 minutes · 250 words
Opinion essay: Environment
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
It is sometimes said that governments spend too much money on protecting wildlife, while other problems facing people are more important.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.