IELTS Writing Task 1: Process Diagrams
This tests whether you can describe how something is made or how a natural or manufactured process works, using clear sequencing language and accurate passive verb forms rather than opinions or predictions.
What this question looks like
An IELTS process diagram shows a series of stages, either a natural cycle (like the water cycle) or a manufacturing/production process (like how paper or glass is made), usually with 4 to 8 steps connected by arrows. You must write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes, describing what happens at each stage in the correct order, without giving opinions or reasons why the process exists. Sometimes two related diagrams are given, such as a "before and after" or two versions of the same process, which you should compare as well as describe.
Step-by-step approach
- 1Spend 2-3 minutes identifying the start and end points, counting the total number of stages, and deciding whether the process is a continuous cycle (no clear end, so it repeats) or a linear process (has a clear final product).
- 2Group the stages into 2-3 paragraphs based on natural breaks (for example, raw material collection, then processing, then packaging), rather than writing one sentence per stage.
- 3Write an introduction that paraphrases the diagram title, then an overview stating the number of stages and whether it is cyclical or linear, before any detail.
- 4Describe each stage in strict chronological order using sequencing words (first, next, following this, once X has occurred, finally) and mostly passive voice, since the process usually happens to a material, not by a named agent.
- 5Check that every stage from the diagram appears somewhere in your answer and that you have not added causes, purposes or opinions that are not shown in the diagram.
- 6Reread for tense consistency: natural cycles are usually described in present simple passive throughout, and manufacturing processes are also normally present simple passive unless dates are given.
Worked example
The diagram below shows the process by which honey is produced by bees and harvested for human consumption. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. (Stages shown: 1. Bees collect nectar from flowers. 2. Nectar is carried back to the hive and stored in wax cells. 3. Bees fan the nectar with their wings to reduce moisture. 4. Cells are sealed with wax once honey forms. 5. Beekeepers remove frames and extract honey using a centrifuge. 6. Honey is filtered and bottled for sale.)
The diagram illustrates the stages involved in the production of honey, from nectar collection by bees through to the bottling of honey for human use. Overall, the process is linear, moving from a natural, bee-driven stage inside the hive to a human-managed extraction stage, and it consists of six main steps. In the first stage, worker bees fly from the hive to collect nectar from flowers. This nectar is then carried back to the hive, where it is deposited into hexagonal wax cells built by the bees. Once inside the cells, the nectar is fanned by the bees' wings, a process which evaporates excess moisture and gradually thickens it into honey. When the honey reaches the correct consistency, the bees seal the cell with a layer of wax to preserve it. At this point, human involvement begins. Beekeepers remove the wax frames containing the sealed cells from the hive and place them into a centrifuge, a machine which spins the frames rapidly so that the honey is forced out of the cells by centrifugal force. Finally, the extracted honey is passed through a filter to remove any wax fragments or impurities, before being bottled and prepared for sale to consumers. In total, the process transforms raw flower nectar into a refined product ready for consumption, combining a natural biological process with a mechanical extraction stage.
The model identifies this as a linear process with a natural section (bee work) and a human-managed section (extraction), states the total number of stages in the overview, then groups the six stages into two body paragraphs at the natural break point (sealing of the cells). It uses passive voice throughout (is collected, is carried, is sealed, is removed) because the focus is the process, not who performs it except where the beekeeper's role must be named, and it closes with a brief synthesising comment rather than an opinion.
Try it yourself
Write a full Task 1 response of at least 150 words. Identify whether the process is a cycle or a linear sequence in your overview, then describe every stage in order using mostly passive sequencing language. Do not give reasons, opinions or predictions.
The diagram below shows the process used to produce bottled drinking water from a natural spring. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features. (Stages shown: 1. Water is drawn from an underground spring via a borehole. 2. It passes through a series of filters to remove sediment. 3. Ultraviolet light is used to sterilise the water. 4. Minerals are tested and adjusted to a standard level. 5. Water is pumped into sterilised bottles. 6. Bottles are sealed, labelled and packed into crates for distribution.
Common mistakes
- !Writing one short sentence per stage without linking words, which produces a list rather than a flowing description with clear stage transitions.
- !Adding opinions, reasons or predictions (for example, saying a process is efficient or environmentally friendly) when the task only asks for a factual description of what happens.
- !Overusing active voice with vague subjects like 'they' or 'workers' when the diagram does not specify who performs an action, instead of the more natural passive form.
- !Forgetting the overview sentence that states whether the process is cyclical or linear and how many stages it has, which examiners look for as a distinct part of the response.
- !Describing stages out of order or skipping a stage shown in the diagram, which damages the Task Achievement score even if the language used is accurate.
Quick quiz
1. A process diagram shows arrows looping back from the final stage to the first stage. What must your overview state about this?
2. Why is passive voice generally preferred over active voice when describing a manufacturing process diagram?
3. Where should you group stages when a process has 7 or 8 distinct steps?
4. Which of these belongs in a process diagram overview?
Practise this in a real IELTS test
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Take a free Writing testIELTS Writing Task 1: Process Diagrams — FAQ
Do I need an introduction and a separate overview for a process diagram?
Yes. Write a one-sentence paraphrase of the task's title as your introduction, then a short separate overview paragraph stating the number of stages and whether the process is linear or cyclical. This overview is specifically rewarded under Task Achievement, so never skip it.
What tense should I use for a process diagram?
Almost always present simple passive, since process diagrams describe general, repeatable procedures rather than a single past event. Use present simple passive (is heated, are collected) consistently throughout, even for stages that involve machines or people.
How is a process diagram different from describing a graph or a map in Task 1?
Unlike graphs, there are no trends, numbers or comparisons over time to report, and unlike maps, you are not comparing two points in time in most cases. Instead, you must show clear chronological sequencing of fixed stages, which means your key language tool is sequencing connectors rather than comparative or trend vocabulary.