PROCESS IN THE IELTS TEST

1. Definitions
1.1. What is a process essay?
In the first section of the Writing IELTS Test, you might be asked to write an essay to clarify
a process via a________. Your report should follow _____________order and be at least
____ words. You are not able to give your ________ideas.
1.2. Categories

There are two main types: the _____________essay and the______________ essay. The
_____________essay describes how to do something while the other one describes how
something works.

2. Requirements
Does the report have a___________________ ?
Does it have an ______________ , ________ and ___________ ?
Does it include ______________ words to make the writing cohesive within sentences
and paragraphs?
Does the report use ___________________and ______________ ?
Does it include a variety of _____________________ ?
Does it include a range of ____________________________ ?
Does the report meet the requirements of the ________ ?
Does it meet the __________ requirements?
Does it describe the whole process___________?

3. How to write a process essay?

- Step1: Before you begin, ____________the kind of process that you are doing. Next, you
need to organize it in logical steps and list these steps in order.
- Step 2: Write an _____________.Its an ______________________ , providing insight on
the topic for the readers. Dont get too detailed and keep it.
- Step 3: ___________is comprised of the steps in the process. Explain how to do each step
carefully but make it simple, not too wordy or complicated.
-Step 4: _______________should ____________the process and further explain thebenefit
of knowing how to complete the tasks.
1

 Useful transition words:

- Stage = phase = step.

1st
phase

Next
phases

Simultaneous
phases

Final
phases

Firstly, First, Initially, First of all, To begin with, In

the initial phase, In the first step,...

Secondly, second
Then, next, subsequently // Following this
(that) // After that, the next step is,
afterwards
Before this, previously, formerly, earlier, the
second step, soon after
Before this, previously, formerly, earlier, the
second step, soon after
At the same time, simultaneously, parallel to this
step, meanwhile, in the mean time, alternatively //
Either ... or // concurrently// during, when,while

Finally, eventually, the last stage is, at last,etc

Examples for process essay:

1) The carbon cycle

Before writing:
1. What kind of this process?
2. Where should you start? Can you divide the diagram into separate parts?
The food chain
Carbon dioxide return to the atmosphere

3. Paraphrase.
Terrestrial and aquatic _______________
Primary, secondary, tertiary ______________________ .
Consumers _____________________.
Respiration ____________________.
3

MODEL ANSWER
Intro: Summary of the whole diagram:
This diagram shows how the carbon cycle works in nature. The first part of the cycle is
providing plants and animals on both land and sea with the carbon dioxide they need to exist
and the second part of the cycle is the return of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
The intro shows that the cycle can be understood in two parts. These two parts are
two content paragraphs.
Both land and sea: I have shown the examiner I can rephrase some of the language from the
diagram
***
Body:
The first part of the cycle shows a food chain where plants and grasses absorb carbon dioxide
from the air. These plants are a food source for primary consumers such as insects which are
in turn eaten by the second level consumers, including smaller birds and fish. At the end of
this food chain are larger animals and mammals which use the secondary level consumers as
a source of carbon and food.
I start my paragraph with a short summary like sentence that links back to the
introduction paragraph. Each sentence begins with a linking phrase to connect it to the
sentence before. The key word is THIS
The second part of the cycle shows how there are two main ways in which carbon dioxide is
returned to the atmosphere. This can either happen as a result of living beings breathing or
consuming fuel or as a product of the waste and remains from their death.
This paragraph also starts with a short summary sentence. This links back to the
first paragraph and the introductory paragraph.
This: I use the same linking technique to make sure my sentences are coherent.
2)The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on,
above and below the surface of the Earth.

Model Answer
The picture illustrates the way in which water passes from ocean to air to land during the natural
process known as the water cycle.
Three main stages are shown on the diagram. Ocean water evaporates, falls as rain, and
eventually runs back into the oceans again.
Beginning at the evaporation stage, we can see that 80% of water vapour in the air comes from
the oceans. Heat from the sun causes water to evaporate, and water vapour condenses to form
clouds. At the second stage, labelled precipitation on the diagram, water falls as rain or snow.
At the third stage in the cycle, rainwater may take various paths. Some of it may fall into lakes
or return to the oceans via surface runoff. Otherwise, rainwater may filter through the ground,
reaching the impervious layer of the earth. Salt water intrusion is shown to take place just before
groundwater passes into the oceans to complete the cycle.

(156 words, band 9)

3) The diagram shows how electricity is generated by a hydroelectric dam.
Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer explaining how the process works.

Model Answer
The diagram illustrates the basic principles of hydroelectric power. The process requires the
construction of a large dam connected to a powerhouse. The dam creates a large reservoir and
the powerhouse is where the electricity is generated
First of all, water trapped in the reservoir behind the dam is forced through an intake. It then
flows into a narrow chamber called a penstock, where the resulting high pressure turns a turbine.
The turbine is connected to a generator in the powerhouse above, and this is where the
movement of the turbine is converted into electricity. The resulting electricity leaves the
powerhouse via cables that carry it over long distances to where it can be used.
5

It is interesting to note that a hydroelectric dam creates no harmful byproducts and relies entirely
on natural forces to produce electricity. After the turbine stage, water flows out through a second
channel and into a river. The process is renewable, thanks to the water cycle in nature.

(163 words, IELTS 8.0)

4) The illustration below shows the process of tying a bow tie.
Write a report explaining to a university lecturer how to tie his bow tie.

Model Answer
The diagram illustrates how to knot a bow tie in eight stages.
To begin with, the tie should be placed around the neck, with one end slightly longer than
the other. Then place the longer end over the other and pass it upwards and behind the point
where the two ends cross.
Next, take the other end of the tie and bend it twice to form an S shape. Bring the longer
end down and in front, so that it holds the S curve in place. Now comes the trickiest part of
the process. Take the long end of the tie and form a similar S shape before passing it
through the narrow gap behind the other end. This creates a knot and the bow should now be
held securely in place.
Finally, adjust both sides of the bow to make it symmetrical and prepare to be the envy of
your friends.
(152 words, IELTS 9.0)

Practice makes perfect