IELTS Writing Task 1 process diagram: sample answers and how to write one
IELTS Writing Task 1 process diagram sample answers at band 6.5, 7.5 and 9 for natural cycles and manufacturing processes, with sequencing language and the passive voice.
A process diagram shows the stages of how something is made or how something happens in nature. There are no figures, so marks come from covering every stage in order, linking them clearly, and — for man-made processes — using the passive voice naturally. The overview should say how many stages there are and where the process begins and ends.
4 process diagram sample answers
Each question is answered three times — at about band 6.5, 7.5 and 9 — with commentary on every criterion, so you can see exactly what moves the score.
- How coffee is producedA strictly linear process that also splits geographically, and three answers that differ in whether they notice the split at all.Band 6.5 · 7.5 · 9 — 175 / 191 / 215 words
- How glass bottles are recycledA ten-stage recycling process, and a lesson in why a process answer is scored on grouping and passive voice rather than on retelling the arrows.Band 6.5 · 7.5 · 9 — 175 / 190 / 217 words
- How potato crisps are manufacturedA twelve-stage factory process in which half the work happens before any oil is used — and only the strongest answer explains why the order matters.Band 6.5 · 7.5 · 9 — 176 / 176 / 203 words
- The life cycle of the dragonflyA nine-stage natural cycle drawn as an even circle, where the time spent in each stage is anything but even.Band 6.5 · 7.5 · 9 — 178 / 200 / 225 words
How to structure a process diagram answer
- 1Introduction. Paraphrase what the diagram shows in one sentence.
- 2Overview. The number of stages, the start and the end point, and whether the process is linear or a cycle.
- 3Body paragraph 1. The first half of the stages, in order, with sequencing language.
- 4Body paragraph 2. The remaining stages through to the final product or the return to the start of the cycle.
Useful language for a process diagram
Sequencing
- at the first stage
- once this has happened
- following this
- in the final stage
- the cycle then begins again
The passive for man-made processes
- is heated to
- are sorted by
- is then transported
- are packed into
- is left to cool
Natural processes (active)
- develops into
- emerges from
- feeds on
- reaches maturity
- returns to
Mistakes that cost marks
- Skipping a stage, which leaves the task incompletely covered.
- Using 'then' and 'after that' before every sentence.
- Forcing the passive onto a natural process, where the active usually reads better.
Now write one yourself.
Timed Task 1 practice with an AI band for each criterion.
Common questions
How many stages should I mention in a process diagram answer?
All of them. Unlike charts, where you select the main features, every stage in a process is part of the task, so leaving one out weakens Task Achievement.
Do I have to use the passive voice in a process answer?
Use it for man-made processes, where what happens to the material matters more than who does it. Natural processes such as life cycles are usually clearer in the active voice.
What goes in the overview of a process diagram?
The number of stages, the beginning and the end, and whether the process is a straight line or a cycle that repeats. No detail of individual stages.