Pro tip: sometimes these are referred to as process diagram questions.
So what are process diagram questions?
That’s a great question as these questions are a bit different from the others and not as common. However, they do appear on the test! Even though when compared to charts or graphs they may seem a bit easier, you should know how to do them rather than not. Give this a read and know what to do when you get a process question in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.
Two Types of Process Questions
You could get a natural or a man-made process. It will not matter which you get as you will use the same framework for both.
Just so you are clear on what the processes are, let’s take a look at them:
Natural: could include life cycles of insects, mammals, or reptiles, a water cycle, or how bees produce honey.
Man-made: think when a human is involved, so things like manufacturing bricks, the process of winemaking, or how bank machines work.
Process Questions Framework
1. Understand the process by identifying its start and endpoints. Then, determine the number of stages involved, and understand the function of each stage and how it relates to the stages before and after.
2. Paraphrase the question. (It wouldn’t be IELTS without this step, would it?)
3. Write an overview paragraph that summarizes the process in two sentences. I’ll explain more later below.
4. Divide the process into two parts and write two separate paragraphs that describe each stage of the process.
5. Review your work for any errors.
Understanding the Process
While on the face these questions may seem difficult as you will be writing about something you have likely never seen before and have no prior knowledge of -do not panic!
#1 The examiner knows that you have likely never had experience with the process before and only have 20 minutes to write about it. You only need to choose the main features and report on them accurately.
#2 You can minimize your stress by asking a few questions to get ready to write.
Review the visual. Then ask yourself:
1. Where does the process start and where does it end?
2. How many stages are there?
3. Is it a man-made process or a natural process?
4. Is it a cyclical (in a circle) or linear (one start point and one endpoint) process?
5. Are there any materials that need to be added to the process?
6. What is produced?
7. What does each stage of the process do?
8. What are the relationships between each stage?
Taking a couple of minutes to answer the questions will help you understand what is happening in the process and begin your writing.
Remember, the processes given on the IELTS are not that difficult. Take a deep breath.
Paraphrase the Question (for a detailed post on the Art of Paraphrasing click here.)
Every process question follows the same format. On the test, you will see the following:
IELTS Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram illustrates the process that is used to manufacture bricks for the building industry. (this is the general information about the process, it will change depending on the question)
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant. (these are the instructions, they will be the same every time)
Write at least 150 words.
The first thing you must do with every question is to paraphrase the general information. As you know, paraphrasing is one of the most crucial skills to learn and master. You paraphrase a sentence by rewriting it in your own words, using words that are different, but you keep the meaning the same. You can read about 4 ways to do this here. However, the easiest way to do it is to use synonyms and change the word order of the sentence.
An example from the question above:
Question: The diagram illustrates the process that is used to manufacture bricks for the building industry.
Paraphrased: The illustration demonstrates methods used in the production of bricks for the construction trade.
Another example:
Question: The diagram below shows the process of photosynthesis.
Paraphrased: The illustration demonstrates how plants produce energy from sunlight.
Now you have your first paragraph. Do this for every question in academic writing task 1. Simply paraphrase the question and you’ll have your first paragraph.
Write an Overview of the Process.
The most important paragraph in the entire report is the OVERVIEW. If you fail to write an overview you will not be able to score above a Band 5. Good news, if you learn to be an ace at writing these you will get a high score.
To write your overview consider the questions in Understanding the Process above, but only 1 – 6. You need to have 2-3 sentences and that’s all -think about breaking the process into two stages so you’ll have two detail paragraphs to provide greater detail.
Pro tip: you may not be able to answer all of these, but you’ll be able to answer enough to write a proper overview.
1. Where does the process start and where does it end?
2. How many stages are there?
3. Is it a man-made process or a natural process?
4. Is it a cyclical (in a circle) or linear (one start point and one endpoint) process?
5. Are there any materials that need to be added to the process?
6. What is produced?
Detail Each Stage of the Process.
You have paraphrased the question to write your first paragraph.
You have written your overview.
Next, you need to write about each stage in greater detail. Think of two paragraphs describing two parts of the process.
Be sure to:
• say what each stage does
• what it produces
• if any materials are added
• and/or discuss the relationship with the previous or following stages
Sequence the Process
Use sequencing language to make your details easier to read by adding these where appropriate:
• Firstly
• First of all
• Secondly
• After that
• From this
• Where
• Before that
• Following that
• Subsequently
• In turn
• Then
Bit of caution here, only use words and grammar if you are 100% confident in how to use them in a sentence. Know the meaning and grammar of any words and phrases you use.
Review your report.
No time you say. Better make time. Practice by watching the clock. Try to write your report in 15 minutes or so, and leave 3 to 4 minutes to check your report and make any necessary improvements. Too many students skip this crucial step and unfortunately, lower their score.
However, I know this will not be your situation as you can use this checklist to review your report.
Process Diagram Question Review Checklist
1. Do I have any spelling or punctuation mistakes?
2. Are the verbs used in the correct tense?
3. Does the process I described make sense? Does it match the illustration?
4. Are there any repetitive words that can be substituted with synonyms?
5. Do I have 4 clear paragraphs?
6. Did I write over 150+ words? (Aim for 165-180 words)
7. Have I included details only noticeable from the diagram?
8. Have I included the main features in the overview?
If you have done all of these, you can have some satisfaction in knowing you have a well-organized and well-written process question report. Great work!
You may find these other blogs useful as you prepare for your IELTS academic writing task 1.
IELTS Writing Task 1: Academic + General Training. What do I need to know?
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Your 5-step strategy