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IELTS Academic Task 1 process diagrams: how to describe the stages
No numbers, no trends, just arrows and pictures. Process diagrams make many people freeze. They follow a simple pattern once you see it.
A process diagram shows how something is made or how something happens, in stages. You still need an introduction, an overview and a clear description, in at least 150 words. What changes is the language: most processes are described in the passive voice, with words that show the order.
Look at the overview
Look at this
A diagram of how glass bottles are recycled.
Overall, recycling is very important for the environment and everyone should do it.This is an opinion. Task 1 asks you to describe what is shown, not to give a view.
Overall, there are four main stages, beginning with the collection of used bottles and ending with new bottles being delivered to shops.How many stages, where it starts, where it ends. Nothing more is needed.
Look at the stages
Take a look
Stage 2 of the diagram.
Then they sort the bottles. Then they clean the bottles. Then they crush it.Repeated then, an unclear they, and a grammar slip. It reads like a list.
Once collected, the bottles are sorted by colour and cleaned, after which they are crushed into small pieces.Passive voice, varied sequence words, and two steps joined in one sentence.
A pattern for any process
- Introduction: say what the diagram shows in your own words.
- Overview: number of stages, first stage, last stage.
- Body: split the stages into two paragraphs, roughly half each.
- Use the passive for actions: is collected, are sorted, is heated.
- Vary the order words: first, once, after this, at the next stage, finally.
Sources
Exam rules change. Always check with the exam provider and the organisation you are applying to.
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