How to Describe a Process in IELTS Writing Task 1

During the IELTS Writing Task 1 preparation, many aspirants get confused about the best way to effectively describe a process diagram.

The task of writing a process diagram requires you to use perfect grammar, proper organization and meaningful connectors. If all these three are handled well, nothing can stop you from scoring an 8+ IELTS band score in the IELTS Writing exam.

In this article, let us look at the steps to write a clear and well-organized process diagram along with our expert tricks.

How Does an IELTS Process Diagram Look?

Types of IELTS Process Diagram Questions

There are two major types of IELTS Process diagrams and finding them out before you begin writing is crucial. They are:

1. Man-made process
2. Natural process

Man-made Process

This includes a step-by-step process of a system or a factory. It uses arrows to show the direction of the process and it has a set of stages. For instance, the process of manufacturing bricks, cement production, paper recycling, etc.

Natural Process

As the name suggests, these are naturally happening processes. For example, the life cycle of a frog or a butterfly, the production of milk, or even a natural water cycle, etc.

Understanding a Process Diagram

Just know that penning down your observation of the steps in the process diagram is the only focus. Moreover, there is no need to worry if the examiner wants the most perfect answer to this. Because they know that you must have never seen this process before and you will only have 20 minutes to write about it. Hence, stay focused on picking out the main stages and writing a report based on it.

Adding on, the processes you will be asked in the final test won’t be very complicated, so there is no need to overthink about it being a very difficult one to answer; instead, try to completely understand what is going on in the given diagram and craft a report based on it.

Connectors to Use For Process Diagrams

Tricks to Frame a Band 8 IELTS Process Diagram

1. Analyze the Process

Right before you begin writing, spend 2 minutes analyzing the given process diagram to plan your answer.

The 3 Initial Steps to Perform:

• What process is given?
• Is it a natural or man-made process?
• how do you structure the answer?

2. Look for Main Stages

Then, break down the steps into ‘main stages.’ Each stage consists of a set of steps that occur to complete the process.

3. Plan Your Structure

Note the key details including the materials, time frames, and equipment if they are mentioned. Then, start planning to present a well-structured essay. Take a look at the following,

Paraphrasing + Overview

These contribute to your 1st paragraph. Paraphrase the question statement and write an overview mentioning the number of steps or the main stages.

Paraphrasing:

Read the question statement, and rephrase it without changing the meaning. Keep the paraphrased statement simple and precise.

You can use phrases like:

• “The process diagram illustrates..”
• “The process diagram highlights..”

Overview:

It is a brief of the process and should mention the count of the main stages or steps.

For example,

“The process of brick manufacturing consists of three main stages with seven steps in total.”

Body Paragraphs

A detailed explanation of all the steps is to be done here. Using a proper set of meaningful IELTS connectors will help you connect one step to another coherently.

To conclude, describing a process in IELTS Writing Task 1 can be done perfectly when you organize it with proper connectors and details of the diagram. Remember, consistent practice is the key to a band 8 in the writing module. Try to expand your vocabulary and use connectors in apt places and never overuse them. If all of the above is done, a well-organized report is written and nothing can stop you from grabbing your desired band score!

Also check:

• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• Best IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips for Achieving Band 9
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essays