Mastering IELTS Writing Task 1: A Step-by-Step Guide to Process Diagram Charts

Diagrams or process charts are usually the least popular in IELTS Writing Task 1. However, you need to have some knowledge of them and should practice writing them.

In this guide, we will write a diagram report together before finishing the lesson with another sample answer.

📝 Writing a Diagram/Process Report Takes 4 Steps:

1️⃣ Analyze
2️⃣ Write an Introduction
3️⃣ Write an Overview
4️⃣ Write the Paragraphs

📌 The Model Structure for IELTS Writing Task 1:

📄 Paragraph 1 – Introduction
📄 Paragraph 2 – Overview
📄 Paragraph 3 – Start of the process → Middle
📄 Paragraph 4 – Middle → End

📚 Vocabulary for Diagram/Process Reports

Many IELTS candidates find process diagrams challenging, but they are actually quite easy if you are familiar with the right vocabulary. Unlike bar or line graphs, where numbers and comparisons play a key role, process diagrams mainly require you to describe steps in a logical sequence.

Here are some essential words and phrases that will help you write a strong process report:

📍 1. Words for Describing a Process

🔹 Begins with / Starts with → "The process begins with harvesting plants."

🔹 Ends with / Results in / Leads to → "This results in the production of ethanol."

🔹 Consists of / Comprises → "The process consists of four main stages."

🔹 Undergoes / Goes through → "The extracted cellulose undergoes fermentation."

🔹 Converted into / Transformed into → "The sugar is converted into ethanol by microbes."

🔄 2. Passive Voice for Non-Living Agents

🔹 Is placed in → "The cocoons are placed in boiling water."

🔹 Is heated / Is processed → "The liquid is heated until it thickens."

🔹 Is extracted from / Is obtained from → "Cellulose is extracted from plant matter."

🔹 Is separated / Is filtered → "The impurities are filtered out before processing."

🔗 3. Linking Words for Sequencing Steps

🔹 First / Initially → "Initially, the eggs hatch into larvae."

🔹 Then / Next / Afterwards → "Next, the threads are unwound into strands."

🔹 After that / Following this → "After that, the ethanol is distilled."

🔹 Finally / Eventually → "Finally, the silk cloth is dyed and woven."

Sample Question:

The diagrams below show the life cycle of the silkworm and the stages in the production of silk cloth. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and making comparisons where relevant.

🔎 Analyze the Chart

In a process diagram, because there is no data, this step is fairly easy. We simply need to look for all the stages in the diagram. Here, we have noticed what both diagrams are about, and that’s it!

📝 Writing an Introduction

In the introduction, simply paraphrase the prompt, as the prompt also introduces the diagram.

📌 Prompt: The diagrams below show the life cycle of the silkworm and the stages in the production of silk cloth.

📄 Introduction: The diagrams illustrate the life cycle of the silkworm and the process of turning a silkworm cocoon into silk cloth.

In the introduction, whenever you can add anything from the diagram that is not written in the prompt, you should. Here, the only thing we have added is that the process of silk cloth starts from the silkworm cocoon.

📌 Writing an Overview

In an overview of a process diagram report, we usually mention all the stages.

Start your overview with "Overall" to show the examiner that this paragraph will provide an overview of the whole report. The overview is extremely important for task achievement. If you do not write an overview, it is extremely difficult to score more than Band 5 in task achievement.

Also, you do not need to write big transitional phrases, such as “It is evident…” or “It is readily apparent…”. The examiner can easily point out fillers in your write-up. Avoid them! "Overall" is enough to show the examiner that this is an overview.

📌 Overview:
"Overall, the life cycle of the silkworm consists of four stages, whereas the production of silk cloth involves six steps."

Since there are two diagrams and 10 steps in total, we are not mentioning each step, as that would be too much. Consider this overly detailed example:

❌ "Overall, the life cycle of the silkworm consists of four stages, including eggs hatching into silkworm larvae…, whereas the production of silk cloth involves six steps, including selecting cocoons, then boiling…."

✅ Instead, we are simply stating the number of steps in the overview.

When there is a single diagram or process, we can select the mid-point as the ending of the first paragraph and the start of the second. We can also select the main turning point as the mid-point, as both paragraphs do not need to be equal in length. However, here, we do not need to worry about this, as there are two distinct processes.

📌 One paragraph will focus on the first diagram, while the other will describe the second diagram.

📄 Writing Body Paragraphs

📌 First Body Paragraph (Life Cycle of Silkworm):

"The life cycle begins when eggs hatch into silkworm larvae after 10 days. The larvae feed on mulberry leaves and take 4 to 6 weeks to develop into silk-spinning worms. After 3 to 8 days, they spin silk threads around themselves, forming protective cocoons. In 16 days, they transform into moths, which then lay eggs, continuing the cycle."

We have simply described the process. Note that we have been able to describe the whole process in the active voice because we have an agent—the larva. It lays eggs, it creates cocoons.

📌 Second Body Paragraph (Production of Silk Cloth):

"The production of silk cloth starts with selecting the cocoons. These are placed in a pot of boiling water, after which they are unwound into long strands. Each single thread is 300 to 600 meters long. The threads are twisted, with some being dyed before weaving, while others are dyed after being woven into fabric."

Since the second diagram does not show any agent, we need to describe everything in the passive voice.

4oNow, take another look at the prompt and full essay, along with another sample:

The diagrams below show the life cycle of the silkworm and the stages in the production of silk cloth.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and making comparisons where relevant.

"The diagrams illustrate the life cycle of the silkworm and the process of turning a silkworm cocoon into silk cloth.

Overall, the life cycle of the silkworm consists of four stages, whereas the production of silk cloth involves six steps.

The life cycle begins when eggs hatch into silkworm larvae after 10 days. The larvae feed on mulberry leaves and take 4 to 6 weeks to develop into silk-spinning worms. After 3 to 8 days, they spin silk threads around themselves, forming protective cocoons. In 16 days, they transform into moths, which then lay eggs, continuing the cycle.

The production of silk cloth starts with selecting the cocoons. These are placed in a pot of boiling water, which are then unwound into long strands. The single thread is a 300 to 600 metre long. The threads are twisted, with some being dyed before weaving, while others are dyed after being woven into fabric."

The diagram below shows a biofuel called ethanol is produced. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

"The diagram illustrates the process of producing a biofuel called ethanol.

Overall, ethanol production is a cyclic process consisting of several distinct stages: harvesting plants, extracting cellulose, processing cellulose into sugar, adding microbes to convert it into ethanol, and burning this biofuel, which releases carbon dioxide that, along with sunlight, supports plant growth.

The process begins with plants absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide for growth. Once the trees reach an optimal height, they are harvested and sent to the pre-processing stage, where a machine cuts them into chunks for cellulose extraction. The extracted cellulose then undergoes further processing, during which it is converted into sugars. Microbes are introduced to these sugars, leading to the production of ethanol.

Afterward, the ethanol is used as an energy source in various modes of transport, including cars and planes. The combustion of this biofuel releases carbon dioxide, which, along with sunlight, sustains plant growth, thereby completing the cycle."