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IELTS Process Diagram

The document provides guidance on summarizing an IELTS process diagram in three stages: 1) Introduce the diagram by paraphrasing the instructions, 2) Highlight the main points by providing an overview of the number of stages and how the process begins and ends, and 3) Give the details of each stage using time connectors and passive voice. Key aspects are connecting the stages in time order and focusing on the activities rather than those performing them using passive constructions.

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164 views

IELTS Process Diagram

The document provides guidance on summarizing an IELTS process diagram in three stages: 1) Introduce the diagram by paraphrasing the instructions, 2) Highlight the main points by providing an overview of the number of stages and how the process begins and ends, and 3) Give the details of each stage using time connectors and passive voice. Key aspects are connecting the stages in time order and focusing on the activities rather than those performing them using passive constructions.

Uploaded by

Idan007
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IELTS Process Diagram:

Lesson 3
http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-process.html

It is less common in the writing test, but sometimes you will get an IELTS
process diagram to describe.

This should follow the same format as any task 1:

1. Introduce the diagram


2. Give an overview of the main point/s
3. Give the detail
Follow this link about how to write a task 1.

However, there are different types of task 1 (line graphs, pie charts, maps etc)
and each requires knowledge of a certain type of language.

This lesson will look at how to write an IELTS process diagram for task 1.

What is an IELTS Process Diagram?


To begin, look at this question:

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram illustrates the process that is used to manufacture bricks


for the building industry.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features


and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.


A process will have a number of stages that are in time order. So you
should start at the beginning, and describe each stage through to the last one.

In the example above, this is fairly clear. It begins with the digging of the clay,
and ends with delivery.

Processes are not always this clear, and you may have to look more carefully
to spot the beginning, and there may also be two things happening at the
same time.

So it is important that you look at other sample processes to get a good


understanding of how they can vary.

Introduce the Diagram


As with any task 1, you can begin by paraphrasing the rubric:

The diagram explains the way in which bricks are made for the building
industry.
As you can see, this has been taken from the question, but it has not been
copied. You need to write it in your own words.

Highlight the Main Points


An IELTS process diagram is different to a line, bar, pie chart or table in that
there are not usually key changes or trends to identify. However, you should
still give an overview of what is taking place.

The public band descriptors state that to achieve a band 6 or more for
task response the student must provide an overview in a task 1.

As there are no trends to comment on, you can make a comment on, for
example, the number of stages in the process and how it begins and
ends:

Overall, there are eight stages in the process, beginning with the digging up
of clay and culminating in delivery.

Give the Detail


Now you need to explain the IELTS process diagram, and there are two key
aspects of language associated with this:

1) Time Connectors
A process is a series of events, one taking place after the other. Therefore,
to connect your stages, you should use time connectors.

Here is the rest of the answer with the time connectors highlighted (notice that
you simply go from the beginning to the end of the process):

To begin, the clay used to make the bricks is dug up from the ground by a
large digger. This clay is then placed onto a metal grid, which is used to
break up the clay into smaller pieces. A roller assists in this process.

Following this, sand and water are added to the clay, and this mixture is
turned into bricks by either placing it into a mould or using a wire cutter. Next,
these bricks are placed in an oven to dry for 24 48 hours.

In the subsequent stage, the bricks go through a heating and cooling


process. They are heated in a kiln at a moderate and then a high temperature
(ranging from 200c to 1300c), followed by a cooling process in a chamber for
2 3 days. Finally, the bricks are packed and delivered to their destinations.

These connectors are the same you would use to write a graph over
time when you explain a series of changes.

These are some common IELTS process diagram connectors:

To begin
Following this
Next
Then
After
After that
Before**
Subsequently
Finally

** If you use before, this means that you will be mentioning a later stage
before an earlier stage, so you need to use it carefully. If you can use it
properly though, it will get noticed.

Here is an example using stages four and five:

Before being dried in the oven, the mixture is turned into bricks by either
placing it into a mould or using a wire cutter.

2) The Passive

When we describe an IELTS process, the focus is on the activities, NOT the
person doing them.

When this is the case, we use the passive voice, not the active.

This is a brief explanation of how to use the passive voice, but if you are new
or unsure about using it, you should do some further study and practice.

Most sentences use this structure:

Subject + Verb + Object


A large digger digs up the clay in the ground.
In the active voice (as above), the digger is doing the verb i.e. the digger is
doing the digging.
When we use the passive voice, we make the object (the clay) the subject,
and make the subject (the digger) the object. We also add in the verb to be
and the past participle (or Verb 3).

(S) The clay in the ground (V) is dug up (O) by the digger.
So throughout most of your description for your IELTS process diagram, you
should be using the passive voice.

This is difficult as some verbs cannot take the passive. For example, 'to go'
cannot be passive, so it is kept in the active voice:

...the bricks go through a heating and cooling process.


This is why you need to make sure you practice the passive so you know
exactly how to use it.

Also, as you will see from the description, it is more usual to to comment on
who or what is doing the action so the 'by...." phrase is excluded.

Here is the same example description with uses of the passive highlighted:

To begin, the clay (which) is used to make the bricks is dug up from the
ground by a large digger. This clay is then placedonto a metal grid, onto a
metal grid, which is used to break up the clay into smaller pieces. A roller
assists in this process.

Following this, sand and water are added to the clay, and this mixture is
turned into bricks by either placing it into a mould or using a wire cutter. Next,
these bricks are placed in an oven to dry for 24 48 hours.

In the subsequent stage, the bricks go through a heating and cooling process.
They are heated in a kiln at a moderate and then a high temperature (ranging
from 200c to 1300c), followed by a cooling process in a chamber for 2 3
days. Finally, the bricks are packed and delivered to their destinations.
Map of Brandfield with two proposed sites for a shopping mall

Model Answer
The map illustrates plans for two possible sites for a shopping mall in the city
of Brandfield. It can be seen that the two sites under consideration are in the
.north and the south east of the town

The first possible site for the shopping mall, S1, is just north of the city centre,
above the railway line, which runs from the south east of the city to the north
west. If it is built here, it will be next to a large housing estate, thus providing
easy access for those living on the estate and in the city centre. It will also be
.next to the river, which runs through the town

The site in the south east, S2, is again just by the railway line and fairly close
.to the city centre, but it is near to an industrial estate rather than housing
There is a main road that runs through the city and is close to both sites, thus
providing good road access to either location. A large golf course and park in
.the west of the town prevents this area from being available as a site

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