Scribd
Upload
116 views4 pages

How To Describe A Process

1. The document explains the process for summarizing an IELTS process diagram in 3 steps: introducing the diagram, giving an overview of the main points, and providing details. 2. It also provides guidance on writing the summary, including using time connectors to sequence the process, employing the passive voice, and varying descriptive language. 3. Key points covered are digging clay, forming bricks, drying, heating and cooling, and final delivery.

Uploaded by

ama
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
116 views4 pages

How To Describe A Process

1. The document explains the process for summarizing an IELTS process diagram in 3 steps: introducing the diagram, giving an overview of the main points, and providing details. 2. It also provides guidance on writing the summary, including using time connectors to sequence the process, employing the passive voice, and varying descriptive language. 3. Key points covered are digging clay, forming bricks, drying, heating and cooling, and final delivery.

Uploaded by

ama
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

IELTS Process Diagram

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

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.


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

ORIGINAL: “The diagram illustrates the process that is used to manufacture bricks for the
building industry.”

1 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 as much as possible

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:

2 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.

1. Use time connectors


These are some common IELTS process diagram connectors:

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

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.

BETTER: The ........................................................................

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.


PASSIVE VERBS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED
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 placed onto 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.

Varying your Language


Sometimes it may be appropriate just to use the same language that you are given in the IELTS
process diagram to describe it, but you should try to vary it.

You may be able to use nouns from the diagram as your verbs. For example, the noun
packaging in stage seven becomes:

Finally, the bricks are packed…

FULL ANSWER
IELTS Process Model Answer
The diagram explains the way in which bricks are made for the building industry. Overall, there are
seven stages in the process, beginning with the digging up of clay and culminating in delivery.

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.

You might also like