PROCESS DIAGRAM
The first Writing task might ask you to describe an object, and/or describe a process.
Read the instructions very carefully so you know exactly what you have to do.
Look at the picture/diagram very carefully so you understand what the object or process is.
Always make a paragraph plan, including the examples and relevant supporting data you intend to use.
Make sure you include all the main information from the picture/diagram in your description.
1) Describe key stages in the process in a logical order, making comparisons where appropriate.
2) Use suitable words and phrases to structure and link the process clearly.
3) Remember to include an overview summarizing the main features of the process.
4) Vary your vocabulary and use your own words as far as possible.
The diagram explains the way in which bricks are made for the building industry. Overall, there are eight
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 two differing types
of brick 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.
The flowchart illustrates the various steps that a high school student must follow to enter university.
At a glance, the process starts after the applicants obtain high school and finishes with them entering to
the university through a series of steps.
Once the high school has been obtained, students need to complete an application for university
entrance. This can be downloaded from the university website. The completed application should then
be sent to the administration.
Applicants receive a reply two weeks later which is provisional acceptance, a rejection or an acceptance.
If a rejection is received, students can either cancel their application altogether or complete an
application for an alternative course and send to the administration office.
A provisional acceptance means that more documentation is required. Applicants in this situation should
complete the additional documentation and submit them to the office. When an acceptance is received,
the applicant should complete the enrollment form and select which subjects he or she wishes to
undertake and register with the dean. When all this is complete, the applicant may enter university.
The diagrams illustrate the phases and apparatus to make cement and how cement is utilized in the
production of concrete for construction.
The production of cement involves a 5 stage, linear process that begins with the mixing of raw materials
and culminates in the packaging of new cement. Making concrete is a simpler process that involves
mixing four ingredients in a concrete mixer.
Limestone and clay are crushed and the resulting powder is then mixed before being passed through a
rotating heater. Once heated this mixture travels over a conveyor belt and is ground through a grinder.
Now that the cement has been produced, it is packaged and transported to a building site where it can
be used to make concrete.
Concrete is made up of half gravel, quarter sand, 10% water and 15% cement. All of these are added
together in a cylindrical drum and rotated until concrete is yielded.
Writing lecture Classwork
The flowchart illustrates how chocolate is manufactured, and the pie chart depicts how the production
costs of one chocolate bar is divided among the various parties who are involved in the process.
Overall, various industrial steps and processes are required to make chocolate, and the chocolate
company makes a small profit from the sale of each bar.
As seen from the flowchart, cocoa is ground and is turned into cocoa liquor while the remains are
disposed. This cocoa liquor is used for two purposes: one part is reserved to make industrial chocolate
whereas the rest of it is made into pressing. In turn, this pressing is used to make two products; cocoa
butter, and cocoa powder which is used by the food industry. Meanwhile, a part of the cocoa butter is
mixed with the remaining cocoa liquor to produce industrial chocolate while the rest of it is combined
with sugar and other ingredients to produce the final product - chocolate bars.
On the other hand, the pie chart shows that farmers get the least (4%) from the sale of one chocolate
bar, whereas the cost of ingredients and overheads, and supermarket expenses are set at 34%, and 37%
respectively. Lastly, 15% of the price is dedicated to tax, and the company takes the remaining 10% as
profit.
Writing Lecture Classwork
The diagram shows a process for producing electricity for home use. The equipment consists of a large
tank, boxes and pipes that would be able to fit into a garage-sized room.
Electricity is produced using methane gas, generated from a mix of compost and water in a large steel
tank. The tank is about the same height as a person and about twice as wide. Methane rises to the top
of the tank and is collected and stored in a gas storage system. The stored gas is the fuel source used in
the energy conversions that happen next.
Once compressed in a gas compressor, the methane fuels a combustion engine, which in turn produces
mechanical energy. Having been transferred to a generator, the mechanical energy is then transformed
into electrical energy, which is then stored in a battery. At this stage the electricity is ready for home
use.
MAPS & PICTURE DESCRIPTION
Below are the list various buildings and features and verbs we could describe their change.
Buildings– demolished, knocked-down, flattened, replaced, renovated, built, constructed,
reconstructed, developed, extended, expanded, relocated, converted and modernized.
Examples:
The government demolished the industrial estate and developed a sports ground.
They removed the shops and replaced it with a skyscraper.
A port was constructed at the edge of the river.
The factory in the city centre was demolished and relocated to the north of the city.
The old warehouses were replaced with new hotels.
The factory was converted into apartments.
Trees and Forests- cleared, cut-down, chopped-down, removed, planted.
Examples:
The forest was cut-down and replaced with a shopping centre.
The trees were cleared to make way for houses.
Roads, bridges and railways lines- constructed, built, extended, expanded and removed.
The main road was extended and a new bridge built over the river.
Leisure facilities- opened, set up, developed.
Examples:
A skate park was set up next to the swimming pool.
A park was developed beside the forest.
How to Describe General Changes
As this is an IELTS writing task 1 question we must write an overview and this is where we talk generally
about the main changes that have occurred between the two maps.
Below are some examples of general statements we could use to describe change in towns and cities.
• Over the period, the area witnessed dramatic changes.
• From 1995 to 2005, the city centre saw spectacular developments.
• The village changed considerably over the time period.
• During the 10-year period, the industrial area was totally transformed.
• Over the past 20 years, the residential area was totally reconstructed.
• Over the time period, the old docks were totally redeveloped.
• Between 1995 and 2005, the old houses were rebuilt.
• The central business district was completely modernized during the time period.
Pick two or three of the most noticeable differences in the map and write a general statement for each.
This will be your overview paragraph.
The more specific changes should be included in your main body paragraphs.
How to Describe Locations
You will also be expected to describe where things are maps and describe where changes have occurred.
You can use ‘to the left’ and ‘to the right’, but a better way is to use ‘north’, ‘south’,
‘east’ and ‘west’. Draw the symbols on the question paper if they are not already there.
Examples:
The forest to the south of the river was cut down.
A golf course was constructed to the north of the airport.
The houses in the south-west of the town were demolished.
The green fields to the north-west of the city were redeveloped as a park.
The airport in the centre of the city was relocated to the north-east of the river.
The school to the south-east was knocked down and a new one built to the east of the forest.
Finally, it is expected to use prepositions of place, e.g. at/in/on/by/beside/to/off/from, to
describe where things are.
Examples:
Dramatic changes took place in the city centre.
To the south of the town, there is a golf course surrounded by trees.
A new school was built next to the swimming pool.
The old road running from north to south was replaced by a new motorway.
A marina was built on the banks of the river.
The two plans illustrate how a small coastal village in Europe grew into a large tourist centre between
1974 and 2004.
The figures show that over these thirty years the local population increased dramatically from only 12,000
to 80,000 swelling to a possible 130,000 during the tourist season.
During this period, large numbers of high-rise hotels were built along the coastline on both sides of the
original village. The harbor and coastal woodlands were replaced by a sandy beach and a golf course for
the tourists. Similarly, the olive groves inland was replaced with fruit and vegetable farms for the tourist
market.
The original village and those further inland on the hillsides were developed with more homes for locals
and more shops for the tourist trade. A main road leading from the hills to the coast was built to cope
with the increased traffic to the village.
In conclusion, not only the original village, but also the whole surrounding area had been transformed
into a well-populated tourist resort by 2004.
The maps depict an island before and after some renovation works for tourists and compares the changes
on the island for the constructions. Overall, many new facilities have been built for tourists, including
accommodations, restaurant and swimming facilities over the years.
Before the facilities were constructed, there were only trees and a beach on the island and most of the
places were empty. At present, many new tourists’ facilities have been developed including
accommodation facilities, restaurant, reception centre, pier for boating and swimming facility on the
beach. Plants and trees were not cut down to build these constructions and most of the facilities were
made near the beach and the sea.
Besides, footpaths and roads for commuting have been built to facilitate the tourists. The footpaths were
made so that tourists can walk between the residing places and the beach while the vehicle tracks were
created to visit the restaurant, reception area, and the pier.
The diagrams illustrate some proposed changes to the central area of the town of Islip.
It is clear that the principal change to the town will be the construction of a ring road around the centre.
Various other developments with regard to shops and housing will accompany the building of this road.
Looking at the map of Islip as it is now, we can see that a main road runs through its centre from east to
west. The second map shows the planned pedestrianization of this road. Traffic will be diverted on to a
dual carriageway that will form a ring around the town centre.
Currently there is a row of shops along either side of the main road. However, it appears that the shops
along the north side of the new pedestrian street will be demolished to make way for a bus station,
shopping centre, car park and new housing area. The shops along the south side of the street will
remain, but it seems that the town’s park will be reduced in size so that more new houses can be built
within the ring road.
The plans, A and B, illustrate the refurbishment of a health centre in two different years (2005 and the
present). Overall, there have been massive changes in the health centre over the period given. The centre
has clearly been enlarged and its layout has also been changed to meet the demand.
In 2005, the main entrance was located in front of the health centre with 12 car parking spaces outside.
From the main entrance, there were some seats along the hallway for clients to wait for consultation. At
the end of the hallway, there was a reception desk for clients to register. In addition, an office and a
consultation room were located on the left of the desk, and on its right, there were two more consultation
rooms. Finally, a physiotherapy room was built behind the desk.
In the present day, the layout of the centre has been revised. The main entrance is now situated in the
left corner of the centre with a reception desk and an area for children to play. Meanwhile, there is a large
common area in the middle of the centre for clients where seats are available alongside the wall. All
original rooms and a newly added room called the minor operations room, on the other hand, are now
allocated to the common area. Finally, the size of the car park increased by twice with 30 spaces.
