IELTS Writing Task 1 Process Diagrams: Step-by-Step

Process diagrams (how something is made or how a cycle works) scare many students. But they're actually one of the easiest Task 1 types because the structure is always predictable. This guide shows you exactly how to describe any process for Band 7+.

Types of Processes

There are two main types you'll encounter:

Linear Process

Starts at A and ends at Z. No loop.

Examples: Making cement, producing chocolate, manufacturing paper

Cyclical Process

A continuous loop that repeats.

Examples: The water cycle, life cycle of a butterfly, recycling process

The Secret Weapon: Passive Voice

In a process, we don't care who does the action. We care about what happens to the object. You MUST use passive voice throughout. This is non-negotiable for Band 7+.

Active vs Passive

❌ People pick the tea leaves. (Active - who cares about "people"?)

✅ The tea leaves are picked. (Passive - focuses on the action)

Passive Voice Formula:

Object + is/are/was/were + Past Participle (+ by...)

Examples:

The mixture is heated to 100 degrees.
The leaves are dried in the sun.
The product is packaged for distribution.

Essential Sequencers (Linking Words)

You need to show the order of steps. Don't just say "And then... And then...". Use variety:

Beginning

First of all,
To begin with,
The process commences when...
Initially,

Middle Steps

Subsequently,
Following this,
Next, / Then,
After this,
Once [step A] is done, ...
Following the [previous step], ...

End

Finally,
The process concludes when...
... is ready for...
Ultimately,

The 4-Paragraph Structure

Introduction (1-2 sentences): Paraphrase the question. "The diagram illustrates the process of [making/producing]..."
Overview (2-3 sentences): Say how many stages there are, where it starts, and where it ends. "Overall, there are [X] main stages, beginning with [first step] and culminating in [final step]."
Body Paragraph 1: Describe the first half of the process in detail, using passive voice and sequencers.
Body Paragraph 2: Describe the second half of the process in detail.

Sample Overview for a Process

"Overall, the process consists of 8 main stages, beginning with the harvesting of tea leaves and ending with the packaging of the final product for distribution."

Notice: No specific details, just the big picture (stages, start, end).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using active voice: "Workers pick the leaves" → Use "The leaves are picked"
Forgetting the overview: Always include it! It's worth 25% of your Task Achievement score.
Describing every tiny step: Group related steps together. "The leaves are picked, washed, and dried" (3 steps in one sentence).
Not using sequencers: Don't just list steps. Show the relationship between them.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Focus on the main stages. If there are 10 steps, group them into 4-5 main stages. You don't have time to describe every detail.

Practice Process Diagrams

We have a library of process diagram questions. Write your report and get instant AI feedback on your passive voice usage and structure.