WRITING TASK 1

PROCESS (DẠNG BÀI MÔ TẢ QUÁ TRÌNH)

I. OVERVIEW
- An IELTS process diagram (flow chart) question can contain a wide variety of
different types of graphics.
- 2 types:
+ Natural
+ Man-made
- Requires:
+ Sequencing words: first, subsequently, after that, finally
+ Describing the location of the objects.
+ Passive form (especially for a man-made process where the subject is often
unknown).
+ Verbs of process: Verbs are needed to describe putting things in (inserted, added),
taking them out (extracted, removed), changing one thing into another (transformed
into, converted into, turned into), or throwing away waste items (discarded).
- Ideally, your essay should have 4 paragraphs:
● Paragraph 1 – Introduction
● Paragraph 2 – Overview
● Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature
● Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature
II. STEPS
5 steps:

1) Analyse the question

2) Identify the main features

3) Write an introduction

4) Write an overview

5) Write the details paragraphs

Sample: The diagrams below show a structure that is used to generate electricity
from wave power.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Generating Electricity From The Sea

Source: Official website IELTS Essentials

Step 1 – Analyse the question

The diagrams below show a structure that is used to generate electricity from wave power.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Every question consists of:

● Sentence 1 – A brief description of the graphic

● Sentence 2 – The instructions
● The graphic – diagram, chart, graph, table, etc.

Sentence 2 tells you what you have to do: 3 things

1. Select the main features.

2. Write about the main features.

3. Compare the main features.

Step 2 – Identify the Main Features

1) Is it a linear or a cyclical process?

A linear process starts and finishes at different places (Điểm bắt đầu và điểm kết thúc khác
nhau).

→ It will often involve the manufacture or creation of something, starting with the raw
materials (chuẩn bị nguyên vật liệu) going in at one end and the finished product coming out
the other end (Thành phẩm).
An example of this can be seen in this diagram from a past IELTS process diagram question
about the manufacture of bricks.

Linear process

Cyclical process

A cyclical process, on the other hand, is a process that goes back to the beginning and repeats
over and over again (điểm đầu của quy trình cũng như điểm cuối), such as the life cycle of a
frog or a butterfly. → Quy trình khép kín
2) Where does the process start and end?

● Dạng bài Circular: Hãy dựa vào cách đánh số trong biểu đồ để xác định trình tự phân
chia các đoạn.
● Dạng Linear: Nếu biểu đồ được đánh số sẵn, bạn chỉ cần dựa vào các số để chia đoạn.
Nếu không có đánh số, bạn có thể dựa vào ý nghĩa của quy trình trong bài để xác định
các bước và chia đoạn cho phù hợp.

3) How many steps are there to the process?

If there are a lot, it can be helpful to number them from 1 to whatever number the final stage
is.

4) Can the process be easily broken down into stages?

● In the brick-making graphic, for example, there are three stages:

Creating the bricks from clay → Manufacturing the finished product by drying and
firing → Packaging and delivery

● In the life cycle graphic above, there are also three distinct stages as the frog passes
through different stages of development
 Egg → juvenile (vị thành niên) → adult.

5) What are the raw materials (vật liệu thô)? What is produced at the end of the process?

These questions obviously apply only to manufacturing processes.

For other types of process, it might be more appropriate to ask the following question.

6) What is the end result of the process?

Generating Electricity From The Sea

Two stages:

Stage 1: Electricity is generated as the wave flows into the structure (Diagram A).

Stage 2: Electricity is also created as the receding wave draws air back down the column
(Diagram B).

*recede: to move further away into the distance

=>The 4 part structure for the essay

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Paragraph 2 – Overview

Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature

Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature

Step 3 – Write an Introduction

Question:

The diagrams below show a structure that is used to generate electricity from wave power.

Introduction (Paragraph 1):

→ The two images illustrate a structure that is designed to produce electricity from waves.
(Use synonyms)
→ The two diagrams illustrate a method of creating electricity from the force of waves using a
specifically designed man-made construction. (Use synonyms +Change the structure)

- Show = illustrate
- Generate electricity = create electricity
- Wave power = the force of waves
- ‘Man-made construction’: Type of process

Một số mẫu câu mở bài tham khảo với dạng bài Process IELTS Writing Task 1:

● The diagram shows each stage of/in + danh từ/ cụm danh từ
● The diagram shows + danh từ/ cụm danh từ
● The diagram gives/provides information about …
● The diagram demonstrates/shows the procedures/the various stages/steps in + danh từ/
cụm danh từ
● The diagram shows how to + động từ
● The diagram shows how sth is + động từ V2/V-ed

Step 4 – Write an Overview (Paragraph 2)

For example:

Overview (Paragraph 2):

The structure, consisting of a wave chamber and a tall column containing a turbine, is erected
on a steeply sloping coastal cliff or sea wall where it is subject to the movement of the ocean
waves.

- Wave chamber: buồng tạo sóng

- (to) erect: to build a building, wall, or other structure
 - Steeply (adv): suddenly or by a large amount/at a sharp angle

Eg: The value of the land has risen steeply.

- Be subject to sth: to have or experience a particular thing, especially something

unpleasant

Eg: All of this income is subject to tax.

Step 5 – Write the 1st Detail Paragraph

Paragraphs 3 and 4 of your IELTS process diagram essay are where you include more
detailed information.

In paragraph 3: Explain the first key feature in more detail.

Stage 1: Electricity is generated as the wave flows into the structure (Diagram A).

Paragraph 3:
The first diagram shows how the incoming wave fills a large chamber and forces the air inside
this space up the column and through the turbine. The pressure of the air rotates the turbine
which generates a current of electricity. The process does not end there for the structure is able
to continue producing power as the sea recedes as can be seen in the second diagram.

- The incoming waves = the waves flows into

- A large chamber = wave chamber
- The pressure of the air: Áp suất không khí
- A current of electricity: Dòng điện

=>Chu trình:

Sóng vào khoang (the incoming waves) → không khí bị đẩy lên (forces the air) → Áp suất (The
pressure of the air) → Quay turbine (rotates the turbine) → Tạo ra dòng điện (generates a
current of electricity)

Step 6 – Write the 2nd Detail Paragraph

● Do the SAME thing: key feature + the second stage

Stage 2: Electricity is also created as the receding wave draws air back down the column
(Diagram B).

Paragraph 4:
As the water now flows away from the structure, it draws air back down the column and
downwards through the turbine in the same direction as the previous upward flow of air. The
turbine continues to turn thus generating even more electricity.

- The receding wave: the water flows away from…

- Draw air back down sth: hút không khí trở lại
- The previous upward flow of air: luồng không khí đi lên trước đó
The most useful phrases for IELTS Writing Task One flowchart task
introductions
● First sentence of the introduction/ Rephrasing the question/ Brief description of the
flowchart
1. The chart (given) gives information on the way that…
2. The flowchart (given) includes information on the method by which…
3. The chart (given) shows the process for…
4. The flowchart (given) illustrates the steps necessary to...
5. The diagram (at the top) represents the process by which…
6. The illustration (at the bottom) explains how to…
7. The (left-hand/ right-hand) illustration presents information on how … is…
● Summary sentence/ description of the component parts/ what you notice straight away
8. There are… steps (in total) from the start to the end of the process.
9. The… steps are divided into two parts, from… to…, and from… until…
10. The… stages can be split into two parts, the section starting from…, and the other
beginning from…
11. The process goes from… to… (in … steps/ stages).
12. The system consists of (both)…
13. The procedure is made up of… parts.
14. The first … steps of the process…, whereas the rest of the procedure…
15. The whole process includes both … and …

The most useful phrases for the body of IELTS Writing Task 1
flowchart essays
● The first step
1. At the beginning of the process,…/ At the start of the process,…/ The first part of the
procedure is…
2. The first stage shown on the flowchart is…/ The initial part of the process is…
3. The cycle begins with…/ The process starts with…/ The system gets underway with…
● The following steps
1. After that (stage)/ Following that, the process moves onto…
 2. After completing that/ (After) having finished that, the process progresses to…
3. When that (part of the process) is completed/ After that is completed/ Once that is
completed, the next step is…
4. After that,…/ Next,…/ The following stage is…
5. This is followed by…/ This leads to…
● The final stage
1. The final step is…/ The last stage is…
2. The process comes to a close with…/ The procedure concludes with…/ The system ends
with…
3. …brings the process to a close/ ends the procedure.
4. Things happening at the same time/ Alternatives/ When the flow chart splits
5. There are then two ways of…,…/ Some… while others…/ Then… either… or…
6. Alternatively,…/ The other possibility is…
7. Further explanation
8. During this stage,…
9. This stage consists of…/ This part of the process includes…
10. namely,…/ To be precise,…
11. This means (that)…/ That is to say…/ In other words,…/ To explain that further,…/
i.e….
12. Going back in time
13. This follows…/ Before that,…/ Prior to this,…
14. Starting the second body paragraph
15. Turning our attention to the remaining five steps,…
16. Moving on to the second half of the process,…
17. Turning to the rest of the procedure,…
18. Looking at the parts of the process which…,…
19. The other flowchart/ The second chart/ The lower diagram…
20. After… is completed, the second half of the process starts with…
21. The remainder of the process starts with…
22. As for the other flowchart,…
PRACTICE
Sample (160 words, band 9)
Intro + Overview:
The flow chart shows how waste paper is recycled. It is clear that there are six distinct stages
in this process, from the initial collection of waste paper to the eventual production of usable
paper.
- Intro: Paraphrase
- Overview:
+ Chỉ ra 6 stages: The initial collection (Bước đầu tiên) → The production of
usable paper (Bước cuối cùng)
Body:
Para 1: At the first stage in the paper recycling process, waste paper is collected either from
paper banks, where members of the public leave their used paper, or directly from businesses.
This paper is then sorted by hand and separated according to its grade, with any paper that is
not suitable for recycling being removed. Next, the graded paper is transported to a paper
mill.
- Paper mill: a factory where paper is made
- Sequencing words: then, Next

Para 2: Stages four and five of the process both involve cleaning. The paper is cleaned and
pulped, and foreign objects such as staples are taken out. Following this, all remnants of ink
and glue are removed from the paper at the de-inking stage. Finally, the pulp can be processed
in a paper making machine, which makes the end product: usable paper.
- (to) pulp: to destroy books, magazines, newspapers
- Staple (m): ghim
- Sequencing word: Following this, Finally
- The de-inking stage: Giai đoạn khử mực - removing ink from pulp
- three-pronged: 3 parts
- Purification: the act of removing harmful substances from something
- robust agricultural machinery
- grinder: máy xay, nghiên
- syrup: xi-rô
- sugar crystal: tinh thể đường
- centrifuge: máy ly tâm