How do I describe a process in IELTS Task 1?

Don’t fear the process!

You’re probably not going to believe me, but describing a process is not as difficult as it may seem.

Some things which make describing a process particularly ‘stress free’ are:

• the fact that you can use Present Simple throughout – you don’t need to worry about tenses!
• the fact that there are clear stages – you don’t need to worry about analyzing numbers and percentages etc
• the diagram usually provides the vocabulary that you need

But you need to be careful about a few things:

• try not to use too many of the words from the Task – try to adapt them wherever possible
• make sure you use the Passive tense and that you are clear about when to use uncountable and countable forms (‘the coal IS carried’ or ‘the bags ARE carried’)
• remember that you don’t always need the Passive tense (‘the turbine produces hot gases’)
• use a wide range of linking words – you won’t get much opportunity here to show off your wide vocabulary, so try not to use ‘After that…’ too often! (look at the model for more suggestions of linking words – First of all, After that, At the next stage, Following that, subsequently – and also ways of linking with relative pronouns e.g. where it is burned, to which oxygen is added, in that).

Always remember the OVERALL – find something to comment on that sums up the process e.g. it’s a complex process involving a number of stages, or it’s divided into two main stages.

Task and Model Answer

Click here for How To Describe a Process in 5 Easy Steps

Click here to find out how to describe a CYCLE.