What a flow chart or process task asks for
Some Academic Writing Task 1 prompts show a process or flow chart instead of numerical data. A diagram might show how a product is made or how a natural cycle works. Your job is to describe the stages in your own words, selecting and reporting the main features. Check the official IELTS organisers for the current task description and criteria.
The language is quite different from graph tasks. You rarely need trend words. You need sequencing, passive verbs and nouns for stages and materials. If your task has numbers and trends, see our guide to IELTS graph description vocabulary instead.
Introducing the process
Start with a short overview sentence that paraphrases the question rather than copying it.
- The diagram illustrates how …
- The flow chart shows the stages involved in …
- The diagram outlines the process by which …
- The chart explains how … is produced.
Then add a sentence about the whole process, such as the number of stages or whether it begins and ends at certain points. Avoid giving an exact count unless you checked it carefully.
Sequencing words and phrases
Sequencing language keeps the reader oriented.
- Beginning: first, initially, to begin with, the process begins with
- Middle: next, then, after that, subsequently, following this
- Overlap: while, meanwhile, at the same time, during this stage
- Ending: finally, the last stage, the process ends when, ultimately
- Time relations: once … has been …, after … , before …, until …
Try not to use “firstly, secondly, thirdly” for every step. Mix patterns, including “after which” and “once”. For more general connectors, read our guide to IELTS writing linking words.
Stage and process nouns
- stage, step, phase
- process, procedure, cycle
- input, output, product, by-product
- raw material, ingredient, component
- equipment, machine, container, tank
- storage, treatment, packaging, distribution
Paraphrase nouns where you can: “step” can become “stage”; “make” can become “produce” or “manufacture”.
Verbs and the passive voice
Many process descriptions rely on the passive voice because the doer is unimportant or not shown.
- The materials are collected and transported to a factory.
- The mixture is heated and then cooled.
- The product is checked before it is packed.
Useful process verbs: collect, crush, mix, heat, cool, filter, dry, press, cut, treat, store, transport, package, release, evaporate, condense.
Use the active voice when something acts naturally, such as in a natural cycle: Water evaporates from the surface and condenses into clouds. Mixing voices where it makes sense keeps the text natural.
Linear and cyclical processes
- Linear processes have a clear start and end. Describe in order from start to finish.
- Cyclical processes repeat. Say that the cycle has no clear start, choose a logical starting point, and mention how it returns: the water then returns to the sea and the cycle begins again.
Do not invent steps that the diagram does not show. Describe only what is displayed.
Use your own words instead of labels
Diagrams give labels, and it is fine to use them for specific items. But the sentences around them should be your own. For example, if a label says “crushing”, you can write “the materials are crushed into small pieces” rather than copy “crushing stage”.
Aim to keep your tense consistent: usually present simple for a general process, past simple only if the diagram describes a historical event.
An original sample paragraph
This is an invented process, for illustration only.
The diagram illustrates how recycled paper is produced. To begin with, used paper is collected and delivered to a processing plant, where it is sorted by type. Next, the sorted paper is mixed with water and broken down into a pulp. Once the pulp has been cleaned to remove ink and small objects, it is pressed into thin sheets. These sheets are then dried and rolled up. Finally, the rolls are cut to size and sent for distribution.
Notice the passive verbs, the mix of “to begin with”, “next”, “once” and “finally”, and the overview in the first sentence.
Common mistakes
- Writing each step as a separate short sentence with the same pattern.
- Overusing “then”.
- Switching tense without a reason.
- Using the passive incorrectly, such as “is heat” instead of “is heated”.
- Adding opinions or explanations not shown in the diagram.
- Leaving out stages or adding invented ones.
- Copying large chunks of the question or labels.
Practice routine
- Find a few process diagrams in practice books or from sources recommended by the official IELTS organisers.
- Write a one-sentence overview in two different ways.
- Turn the diagram into five sentences, each using a different sequencing pattern.
- Underline passive verbs and check the forms.
- Compare your version with a model answer and list the phrases you want to reuse.
FAQ
Do I need to describe every label? Describe the main stages and features. Combine small steps where sensible.
Should I use passive voice all the time? No. It is common for processes, but use active verbs where they are natural.
Can I use “firstly” for a process? Yes, though more varied options like “initially” or “the process begins with” sound less repetitive.