The bar chart compares the proportion of waste recycled in four countries (UK, Germany, France, Italy) in 2015 and 2022.

Questionnaire opinions club members general public new theatre town 2012 - IELTS Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 9 · 247 words.

The bar chart illustrates the percentages of waste treated by four different methods — burning, chemical processing, recycling and landfill disposal — in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Overall, recycling was by far the dominant method in the Netherlands and Italy, whereas landfill was the most common form of waste disposal in Spain and particularly in the UK. In contrast, burning and chemical treatment accounted for relatively smaller proportions across all four countries.

In the Netherlands, recycling represented the overwhelming majority of waste treatment, at approximately 68%, which was considerably higher than any other method. By comparison, only around 14% of waste was processed chemically, while 10% was burnt and a mere 7% was sent to landfill.

A similar pattern can be observed in Italy, where recycling was also the most widely used method, accounting for 40% of total waste. The proportions of waste that was burnt and landfilled were fairly comparable, at roughly 22% and 19% respectively, while chemical processing made up about 18%.

Spain displayed a markedly different distribution. Landfill was the leading method, constituting 40% of waste treatment, followed by burning at 30%. Chemical processing accounted for around 17%, whereas recycling was relatively uncommon, at just over 10%.

The UK showed the greatest reliance on landfill, with approximately 66% of waste disposed of in this way. The remaining methods were used much less frequently: chemical treatment represented around 17%, recycling 14%, and burning only 5%, the lowest figure among all countries shown.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptional response that demonstrates native-level fluency and sophisticated control of the English language. The data is expertly categorized, and the overview clearly identifies the main trends across the four countries.

Task Achievement - 9

- The response provides a comprehensive overview of the data provided in the prompt. - Note: There is a discrepancy between the task description provided (years 2015 vs 2022) and the student response (methods of waste disposal). Based on the student's text, all key features are covered. - Data is accurately cited with figures like "68%" and "40%" supporting the descriptions effectively.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Paragraphing is logically managed with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs grouped by country. - Cohesive devices such as "Overall," "In contrast," and "By comparison" are used effectively to link ideas. - The progression of information follows a logical sequence from the highest recycling nations to those reliant on landfill.

Lexical Resource - 9

- Lexical choice is sophisticated and precise, using terms like "overwhelming majority," "markedly different distribution," and "constituting." - Skillful use of synonyms for waste treatment (disposed of, processed, treated) prevents repetition. - There are no spelling or word formation errors present in the text.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- A wide range of complex structures is used with full flexibility and control. - The majority of sentences are error-free, with sophisticated use of passive voice and comparative structures. - Punctuation is used appropriately throughout, enhancing the clarity of the data presentation.

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