Skip to main content
Back to path

Welcome to a Grasp lesson

Create a free account to keep studying and create your own study path.

Lesson 53

Sequencing Steps: Describing a Process

Recommended resources

Hello! Welcome to our next lesson in the IELTS Writing Task 1 module.

In our last session, we focused on describing charts and graphs by comparing and contrasting data. You learned how to use comparative language and structure your paragraphs to highlight similarities and differences.

Today, we're shifting our attention to a different kind of Task 1 question: the process diagram. Instead of analyzing numbers and trends, you'll be describing the stages of a process. This could be anything from how chocolate is made to the life cycle of a frog.

Our goal for this lesson is to learn how to describe a process using appropriate sequencing language. This skill is essential for writing a clear, logical, and high-scoring response for this task type.

1. Understanding Process Diagrams

First, what is a process diagram? It's a visual illustration that shows a series of steps. Unlike charts, there are no numbers to compare or trends to describe. Your job is to explain what happens from the beginning to the end of the process.

There are generally two main types of processes you will see in the IELTS exam:

IELTS Writing Task 1: Process/Diagram Overview
This image shows the two main types of processes: man-made (often linear, like manufacturing) and natural (often cyclical, like a life cycle). Understanding the type of process helps you structure your description.

To describe a process diagram effectively, you must first understand it. Before you write, always ask yourself:

  • Where does the process start?
  • Where does it end?
  • How many stages are there?
  • Is it a man-made or a natural process?

Let's watch a short video that introduces these concepts.

IELTS Writing Task 1: How to describe a process

This video from English with Emma gives a great introduction to process diagrams in the IELTS exam.

Please watch from the beginning until 03:42. Pay attention to how the speaker defines a process and distinguishes between man-made and natural processes.

As the video explained, your first task is to get a clear picture of the overall process. This will form the basis of your overview paragraph, where you should state the total number of stages and mention the beginning and end points of the process.

2. The Language of Sequencing

To guide the reader through the steps, you need to use sequencing language. These are words and phrases that show the order of events. Without them, your description would be a confusing list of sentences.

Let's watch another part of the same video, where Emma uses a simple example—making a sandwich—to demonstrate how to use sequencers.

IELTS Writing Task 1: How to describe a process

This section clearly explains how to use basic sequencing words to connect the stages of a process.

Please watch from 05:25 to 08:44. Notice the different words she uses to introduce each step, such as First of all, Next, Then, After that, and Finally.

Using these basic sequencers is a great start. To achieve a higher band score, you should use a wider variety of this language. The following reading offers an excellent list of phrases to make your writing more sophisticated.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Process Diagram: Useful Linking Words & Phrases

This resource from IELTSMaterial provides a detailed list of linking words and phrases you can use to describe a process.

Please read the section 'Useful Linking Words & Phrases'. Focus on the three categories: 'Adverbs for Sequencing', 'Prepositions of Time/Stage', and 'Conjunctions for Complex Sentences'. Think about how you could use these to add variety to your writing.

The key is to use this language naturally. Don't start every sentence with a sequencer. Sometimes, the logical flow of your sentences is enough to show the sequence.

3. Key Grammar: The Passive Voice

In process diagrams, the focus is on what is done, not on who does it. For example, in a diagram about making cement, it's not important who crushes the limestone; what's important is that the limestone is crushed.

To do this, we use the passive voice. This is probably the most important grammatical structure for describing processes.

The basic structure of the present simple passive is:
Object + is/are + past participle

  • Example: The limestone is crushed.
  • Example: The raw materials are mixed.

The next video segment provides a very clear explanation of the passive voice and why it's so important for this task.

IELTS Writing Task 1: How to describe a process

This is the most important part of today's lesson. Emma gives a detailed and easy-to-understand explanation of the passive voice, which is essential for describing processes.

Please watch from 08:44 to 18:09. The explanation is quite detailed, so take your time. Pay close attention to the examples of making tea and how she transforms active sentences into passive ones.

Mastering the passive voice will significantly improve your score for 'Grammatical Range and Accuracy'.

4. Practice Time

Let's apply what you've learned. Look at the diagram below, which shows how cement is produced.

IELTS Writing Task 1: Cement and Concrete Production Process
This diagram illustrates the stages involved in producing cement, from raw materials to the final product.

Your Task:

Write one body paragraph describing the first four stages of the cement production process, starting from the raw materials and ending with the rotating heater.

Instructions:

  1. Use at least three different sequencing words (e.g., To begin with, Next, After this).
  2. Use the passive voice in at least three sentences (e.g., The materials are passed...).
  3. Describe the stages in a logical order as shown in the diagram.

Take about 10 minutes to write your paragraph.

Model Answer:

Here is a sample paragraph that effectively describes the first part of the process:

To begin with, raw materials, specifically limestone and clay, are fed into a crusher where they are broken down into a powder. Following this, the powder is passed into a mixer. In the next stage, the combined materials are moved along a conveyor belt to a rotating heater. The mixture is heated as it travels through this long, rotating cylinder.

Analysis of the model answer:

  • Sequencing Language: It uses To begin with, Following this, and In the next stage to clearly mark the sequence.
  • Passive Voice: It correctly uses the passive voice to focus on the process: are fed into, are broken down, is passed into, are moved along.
  • Logical Order: It follows the diagram step-by-step, creating a clear and easy-to-follow description.

Conclusion

Excellent work today. Describing a process diagram is a very different skill from describing a chart, but it follows a clear and logical structure.

Key Takeaways:

  • Always start by analyzing the diagram to find the beginning, end, and total number of stages.
  • Use sequencing language like First, Then, After that, and Finally to guide your reader through the process.
  • Use a variety of sequencing phrases to improve your vocabulary score.
  • The passive voice is crucial because the action is more important than the person or thing performing the action.

In our next lesson, we will tackle another type of diagram in Task 1: describing a map or plan. You'll learn the specific vocabulary needed to describe locations and changes over time.