IELTS Writing Task 1 process diagram: question, model answer and sequencing
Process questions have no numbers to compare, so many candidates panic. They are actually the most predictable Task 1 type: describe every stage in order, use the passive voice, and link the stages smoothly. Try this one in 20 minutes.
Updated 2026-10-23
What a process question asks you to do
A process diagram shows how something is made or how something works, stage by stage. There are two kinds:
- Man-made processes (making olive oil, recycling paper, producing electricity). Use mainly the passive voice.
- Natural processes (the life cycle of a frog, the water cycle). Use mainly the active voice and the present simple.
The marking is the same as for charts: an overview, accurate coverage of every stage, and clear organisation.
A structure for process diagrams
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | What the diagram shows |
| Overview | Number of stages, start and end point, linear or cyclical |
| Body 1 | First half of the stages |
| Body 2 | Second half of the stages |
Split the stages where there is a natural break, such as the move from preparing a raw material to processing it.
Practice question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram below shows how olive oil is produced.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features.
Write at least 150 words.
- STAGE 1 →Olives are harvested by hand or with tree-shaking machines
- STAGE 2 →Leaves and twigs are removed and the olives are washed
- STAGE 3 →Olives are crushed, stones included, into a paste
- STAGE 4 →The paste is mixed slowly for 30–40 minutes
- STAGE 5 →A centrifuge separates the oil from water and solid waste (used for animal feed or fuel)
- STAGE 6 →The oil settles in stainless steel tanks
- STAGE 7 →The oil is filtered and bottled
- STAGE 8Bottles are delivered to shops
Band 9 model answer
The diagram illustrates the stages involved in producing olive oil, from harvesting the fruit to delivering the finished product to shops.
Overall, the process consists of eight main stages. It begins in the olive grove, moves through a series of mechanical steps in which the olives are turned into a paste and the oil is extracted, and ends with bottling and distribution.
First, the olives are picked, either by hand or by machines that shake the trees. Any leaves and twigs are then removed, and the fruit is washed. Next, the olives are crushed into a paste, with their stones still inside, and this paste is mixed slowly for 30 to 40 minutes.
At the fifth stage, the paste passes into a centrifuge, which separates the oil from the water and solid waste. The solid material is not discarded but is used as animal feed or fuel. The oil itself is left to settle in stainless steel tanks, after which it is filtered and bottled. Finally, the bottles are delivered to shops.
Word count: 172
Why this answer scores highly
Task Achievement. All eight stages are covered, including the side detail that solid waste becomes animal feed or fuel. The overview gives the number of stages and the start and end points.
Coherence and Cohesion. Sequencing is varied and natural: First, then, Next, At the fifth stage, after which, Finally. Reference words (this paste, the oil itself, the solid material) link stages without repeating labels.
Lexical Resource. Labels are turned into the writer's own words: "tree-shaking machines" becomes "machines that shake the trees", and "stones included" becomes "with their stones still inside".
Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The passive is used accurately and mixed with active verbs (the paste passes into). There are relative clauses (which separates…), a reduced clause (from harvesting…) and the structure not discarded but used.
Sequencing language
| Position | Expressions |
|---|---|
| Start | First, To begin with, The process begins when…, At the first stage |
| Middle | Next, Then, After that, Following this, Once…, At the same time |
| Joining two stages | before being…, after which…, …, and is then… |
| End | Finally, At the last stage, The process ends with… |
Using the passive accurately
- Present simple passive: The olives are washed.
- With a modal: The paste can be stored for a short time.
- Passive + purpose: The oil is filtered to remove any remaining solids.
- After before/after: The oil settles before being filtered.
The most common error is a missing be: "the olives washed" should be "the olives are washed".
Common mistakes on process diagrams
- Skipping stages. Every stage on the diagram counts. Missing one is a Task Achievement error.
- No overview. "The process has eight stages, from X to Y" is the minimum.
- Starting every sentence with "Then". Vary the linking and combine short stages into one sentence.
- Adding information that is not in the diagram, such as why olive oil is healthy.
Before you hand it in
- Is every stage on the diagram in your answer, in the right order?
- Does the overview say how many stages there are and where the process starts and ends?
- Have you checked every passive for the verb be?
Next, try a map question, or compare with a data question like the table.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an overview for a process diagram?
Yes. State how many stages there are, where the process starts and ends, and whether it is linear or a cycle. Without an overview, Task Achievement is limited even if every stage is described.
Should every sentence be in the passive voice?
Most stages in a man-made process suit the passive because the action matters more than who does it. Mix in a few active sentences (for example 'the paste then passes into a centrifuge') so the writing does not become repetitive.
Can I copy the labels from the diagram?
You can use the key nouns, because there is often no natural synonym for words like 'centrifuge'. Do not copy whole labels word for word; turn them into full sentences with your own verbs and linking.