Process Diagrams may not seem to be a common type of IELTS question, the chances are you’re more likely to get a Graph and Chart question.

Students may prepare less because these questions seem to appear less in the test.

This format of question is also extremely visual and may seem easier to answer than other Task 1 formats.

Nevertheless, preparation is important to fully understand how and what to describe in the different types of IELTS Process Diagrams.

Process Diagrams follow the same format as any Task 1:

This is

1. Introduce the diagram
2. Give an overview of the main point/s (necessary for Band 6 and above)
3. And provide the detail

This post will explain:

• The two types of process question
• The tried and tested method for answering any process question
• How to write the introduction
• How to write about the detail in sequence
• How to finish with a great overview
• The common mistakes IELTS students make

What is an IELTS Process Question?

These questions can be divided into two types: natural cycles and man-made processes.

Official IELTS practice questions have featured natural cycles such as the life cycle of frogs, moths or butterflies, the natural water cycle or how cows produce milk for their calves.

In contrast, practice questions have included man-made processes such as how coffee, tea or leather is made, bricks are produced or a satellite signal is transmitted and received. These typically have a start and a finish.

More good news is that the same skills and principles can be applied to both man-made and natural cycles.

Let’s consider a typical question first.

The picture illustrates the process of how dried coffee is made.

 

 

Gaining an overall understanding of the process

A process has a number of stages that are in time ordered.

So, you should start at the beginning, follow the process and describe each stage through to the final one.

In the example above, this is fairly obvious.

It begins with the collection of laundry, and ends with the storage of linen ready for the customer.

However, processes are not always as clear as this, and you may need to look more carefully to notice the start and the finish, and two things may happen at the same time.

In this example, it’s clear that two processes might take place as one arrow becomes two, for example, there is a difference between bathroom items and linen.

It’s quite a challenge to write about something you have never seen, so it is important that you look at other sample processes to get a good understanding of how they might vary.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be perfect, you only have 15 minutes and just need to notice the main features and report them in an accurate way.

TOP TIPS for understanding

• Identify where the process begins and ends
• Is it a circular process or linear with a start and a finish?
• Count the number of stages?
• Is it natural or a man-made process?
• Is anything added to the process?
• What is the function of each stage of the process?
• Is there a relationship between these stages?
• What is produced at the end? What is the product, the result?

By answering these questions, you will have already started planning your essay

Use the Passive Tense

When we describe an IELTS process, the focus is on the activities in the process rather than the person.

So, to describe the activities you use passive, not the active grammar.

If you need to know more about the Passive voice you can read the review below, but the good news is

• The IELTS task will provide most of the verbs that you need to use
• Using the passive will avoid using the words as they appear in the text
• You only need to use the passive in the present simple tense – that’s the Present Simple Passive

Most sentences use this structure:

• Subject + Verb + Object
• A mechanical digger removes the coal from the earth.

In this active voice the digger does the verb i.e. the digger is doing the digging.

In the passive voice,

• the object (the coal) becomes the subject,
• and the subject (the digger) becomes the object.
• and the verb ‘to be’ and the past participle (or Verb 3) is also added.

Compare:

A mechanical digger removes the coal from the earth.

The coal from the earth is removed by a mechanical digger.

The second example is far more appropriate for the IELTS Process Diagram question and far more sophisticated in choice of language.

Most of the description in your IELTS process diagram will use the passive voice but some verbs cannot be passive so are written as active.

An example of this is ‘go’

‘the coffee goes through a freezing and granular separation process.’

A solution to this problem might be to use a synonymous word, as in this example.

the coffee is put through a heating and cooling process

Here’s my example. I’ve highlighted the passives in the text.

The original question

 

 

Varying your language – Use Collocations

One final tip for a higher score is variation in language.

Occasionally, it may be appropriate just to use the same language that you are given in the IELTS process diagram, but you should try to vary it.

You may be able to use nouns from the diagram as your verbs.

For example, the noun packaging near the end of the process becomes:

Finally, the bricks are packed.

Finally check for errors!

Lets go through the process again.

You can read my complete guide to Process Diagrams Here

1) Here is the question once more

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task

The flow chart below explains how hotel laundry is handled.

Using information from the flow chart describe the laundry process.

Write at least 150 words

2)Here are the task separated individually for you

 

3)Here is my Model Answer

How to Describe a Process – Dry Coffee Production

The picture illustrates the process of dry coffee manufacture and the preparation for sale on the market.

It is clear that there are 12 stages in the production of coffee. The process begins with the selection of coffee beans, and ends at the packaging stage in preparation for retailing to the customer.

Looking at the coffee production process in detail, coffee beans must first be sorted by hand. These beans are then cleaned through a sieve to remove dirt and other materials. Following that the beans are then dried outside for four weeks in the sun. While they are drying the beans are turned and raked to ensure they dry evenly. They are then stored in a silo until they are ready to be transported to the mill for the next process.

Once at the mill, the 7^th process involves hulling which is followed by the grading of the dry beans. At the mill, the beans are bagged and then the bagged coffee is then sold. Once sold, it is roasted. The final process involves the packaging of the roasted beans into suitable containers ready for retailing.

 

You can learn more about Task 1 writing here or go straight to the my complete guide to Process Diagrams Here