Academic Task 1 model answer: Turning coffee grounds into fuel logs
The question
The diagram below shows how used coffee grounds are made into fuel logs for household stoves. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Collection | Used grounds are collected from cafés in sealed bins and taken to a processing plant. |
| 2. Drying | Grounds are dried in a rotating drum heated to 120°C; moisture falls from about 60% to 10%. |
| 3. Sieving | Dried grounds are sieved to remove paper filters and other waste. |
| 4. Mixing | Grounds are mixed with a natural, plant-based binding agent. |
| 5. Pressing | A hydraulic press compresses the mixture into log-shaped blocks. |
| 6. Cooling and packing | Logs are cooled for 24 hours, then packed in boxes of 16. |
| 7. Distribution | Boxes are delivered to shops and sold as fuel for wood burners and fire pits. |
Model answer
The diagram illustrates how used coffee grounds are converted into fuel logs that can be burnt in household stoves.
Overall, the process consists of seven stages, beginning with the collection of waste grounds from cafés and ending with the sale of packaged logs. It is a linear, largely mechanical process, in which the key steps are drying, cleaning, binding and compressing the raw material.
First, used grounds are collected from cafés in sealed bins and taken to a processing plant. There, they are dried in a rotating drum heated to 120°C, which reduces their moisture content from around 60% to just 10%. The dried grounds are then passed through a sieve so that paper filters and any other unwanted material can be removed.
Once cleaned, the grounds are mixed with a natural, plant-based binding agent, and the mixture is compressed into log-shaped blocks by a hydraulic press. These logs are left to cool for 24 hours before being packed into boxes of 16. Finally, the boxes are delivered to shops, where the logs are sold to households as fuel for wood burners and fire pits.
Why it works
Task Achievement
The overview states the number of stages, the start and end points and the nature of the process; every stage is then covered, including key details such as temperature and moisture levels.
Coherence & Cohesion
Sequencers are varied ('First', 'There', 'then', 'Once cleaned', 'Finally') so the order is clear without numbering every sentence.
Lexical Resource
Accurate process vocabulary — 'converted into', 'moisture content', 'binding agent', 'compressed' — without copying the diagram labels word for word.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Consistent use of the present simple passive, a 'which' clause referring to a whole action, a purpose clause ('so that… can be removed') and 'before being packed'.
Written by Stride as a study model against the public IELTS band descriptors. It has not been marked by an IELTS examiner.