IELTS Writing
Task 1: process diagrams
Process diagrams show how something is made or how a natural cycle works. Your overview states how many stages there are and where the process begins and ends.
Describe the stages in order with sequencing words (first, next, once, finally) and mostly passive verbs, because the focus is on what happens, not who does it.
A simple structure
- Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase what the visual shows, with the time period and units.
- Overview (2 sentences): the two or three most important features. No figures needed here; this is what examiners look for first.
- Body paragraph 1: the first group of key features, with figures and comparisons.
- Body paragraph 2: the second group, again with figures. No conclusion or opinion needed.
Example question
The diagram below shows how recycled glass bottles are turned into new bottles. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features. Write at least 150 words.
- 1Bottles collected from recycling banks
- 2Sorted by colour at the plant
- 3Washed and crushed into small pieces
- 4Melted in a furnace at 1,500°C
- 5Molten glass shaped in moulds
- 6New bottles filled and sent to shops
- ↺ back to stage 1
Write it and get a band score in 20 seconds →
How to answer
Identifying Process Stages
- Follow the arrows from the start to the end before listing any stages.
- Treat each main action or change as a stage. Do not count small details, such as time or location, as separate stages.
- Group details that belong to the same action under one stage.
- Keep the stages in the diagram’s order, even if another order seems more logical.
Example: A process diagram showing how glass is made. Main stages in order:
1. Sand and other materials are combined.
2. The mixture is heated in a furnace.
3. The hot glass is shaped.
4. The glass is cooled.
5. The finished glass is checked and packed.
Using Passive Process Language
- Use the passive when the action matters more than the person or machine doing it.
- Form the present simple passive with be + past participle: “The pulp is cleaned.”
- Match be to the subject: “The liquid is heated”; “The sheets are dried.”
- Name an agent with “by” only when it adds useful information.
Example: Task 1: a diagram showing how used paper is recycled. Used paper is sorted and shredded. The pieces are mixed with water, and the resulting pulp is cleaned. It is pressed into sheets, which are dried before use.
Sequencing Process Stages
- Describe stages in the order shown, using time links such as “first”, “next” and “finally”.
- Use “after” or “once” to show that one stage is complete before another begins.
- Refer back with a clear noun phrase, such as “these sheets”, so readers know what happens next.
- Check that every linking word matches the sequence in the diagram.
Example: Task 1: a diagram showing how used paper is recycled. The diagram shows how used paper is recycled. First, the paper is collected and sorted. Once it has been sorted, it is mixed with water to form pulp. The pulp is then screened to remove unwanted material. After screening, it is pressed into sheets. These sheets are dried before being cut to size. Finally, the finished paper is packaged.
Varying Process Sentence Patterns
- Keep the stages in the diagram’s order; vary the grammar, not the sequence.
- Use a time clause such as “Once dried, the material is packed” to link stages.
- Join related actions with a relative clause or a before/after phrase instead of repeating “then”.
- Check that each pronoun and participle refers to the material at the correct stage.
Example: Task 1: a process diagram showing olives washed, crushed, pressed, separated, filtered and bottled. First, the olives are washed before being crushed into a paste. Pressing the paste produces a liquid mixture, which is fed into a separator. There, the oil is separated from water and solid matter. After it has been filtered, the oil is bottled.
Practise
Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.
1A diagram shows fleece being cut from sheep, washed, carded into fibres, spun into yarn, and woven into cloth. Which list gives the main stages in the correct order?
2A juice-making diagram shows fruit arriving, being washed, pressed, filtered, and bottled. What happens immediately after the fruit is pressed?
3A diagram shows grain being harvested, cleaned, ground into flour, mixed with water, and baked into bread. How many main stages are shown?
4Which sentence uses the present simple passive correctly?
5A diagram shows a solution passing through a mesh, but does not show who handles it. Which sentence uses passive voice?
6A diagram shows grain being cleaned, ground into flour, then packed. Which sentence orders the first two stages accurately?
7A diagram shows pulp being pressed into sheets, then dried, then cut. What is the clearest next sentence after the sheets are pressed?
8Seeds are cleaned, crushed, pressed and filtered. Which version varies its sentence structure while keeping the stages in order?
Test hacks
Task 1 needs an overview
Write a sentence that sums up the main trends or the biggest differences, without numbers. Many writers skip it.
Why it works: An overview is essential for a high Task Achievement score.
Answer every part of Task 2
Underline each question in the prompt. A two-part question needs two clear answers.
Why it works: Missing part of the task limits your Task Response score, however good your English is.
Give Task 2 more time
Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 (150+ words) and 40 minutes on Task 2 (250+ words).
Why it works: Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score.
Practise with feedback on every answer
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