Task 1- Process Diagram
📌 IELTS Writing Task 1 Overview
Task 1 always includes the following three elements:
▸ 1) A Brief Description of the Graphic
• A short section explaining what the graphic is
▸ 2) Instructions
• "Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words."
▸ 3) Graphics
• Line graph
• Bar chart
• Pie chart
• Table
• Map
• Process diagram
• Multiple charts (a combination of the above charts)
▸ Key Requirements
Task 1 mainly tests whether you can:
→ 1. Identify the most important information
→ 2. Group information logically
→ 3. Compare data clearly
→ 4. Describe trends and changes
→ 5. Use accurate grammar and vocabulary
→ 6. Avoid unnecessary or invented details
📌 Process Diagram Overview
▸ What is a Process?
• A series of stages that shows how something works or how something is made
• There are usually two types:
→ Natural process: Examples are rain cycle, life cycle of a frog, formation of rocks, etc.
→ Man-made / manufacturing process: Examples are how cement is made, how electricity is generated, how plastic bottles are recycled, etc.
📌 Strategy for Writing - Process Diagram
▸ STEP 1. Understand the Task
The instructions are always the same: "Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant."
▸ STEP 2. Plan Your Answer (4-Paragraph Structure, at Least 150 Words)
→ 1. Paraphrase the description
→ 2. Write an overview paragraph summarising the diagram
- How many main stages there are
- Where the process begins and ends
- Whether it is linear or cyclical
→ 3. Write two body paragraphs by grouping the stages logically
※ No conclusion needed.
📌 Reminders for Process Diagrams
• Spend only 20 minutes on Task 1 — Task 1 is worth half of the Task 2 score
• Pay attention to the relationships in the diagram
→ For natural processes, use verbs like: develops, grows, forms, flows, evaporates, condenses
→ For man-made processes, use more passive voice: is heated, is mixed, is transported, is packaged, is sent to
• Use ordinals and process markers for organization
→ Examples: first, second, next, then, after that
→ Avoid repeating certain ordinals too many times.
• Do not give opinions — Do not explain whether the process is good, efficient, harmful, or important unless the diagram directly shows that.
• Use a variety of synonyms, paying particular attention to verbs
• Always check the time (under 20 minutes) and word count (over 150 words)