A process diagram asks you to describe the stages of how something is made or how a natural cycle works. The examiner wants the steps in the correct sequence, with appropriate sequencing language and the passive voice where it reads naturally. Each question below includes the diagram to describe.
The one rule
No opinions, no trends — every stage in order, sequenced with linkers and the passive voice.
On test day
It's one of the recognised Task 1 formats, so it's fair game on test day — but you can't reliably predict which one you'll be given. Treat every format as likely and practise across all of them rather than betting on a single type.
Templates
Learn the shape, not a script. A reliable structure for process diagram questions saves planning time, but a memorised answer bolted onto the wrong prompt is penalised. Adapt the structure to the exact question in front of you.
Marking
Against the four official IELTS Writing criteria — task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Getting the format right mainly protects your task achievement score; the other three come down to your language.
Practice volume
Enough to make the format automatic, then stop drilling it in isolation. Once you can structure a process diagram response without thinking, your time is better spent on the language criteria that actually move your band.
More Task 1 Academic types
Attempt any process diagram question in the exam workspace — 20 minutes on the clock, then a band for all four criteria in about 60 seconds. Starts with a 3-day free trial.
“The diagram shows the process by which waste paper is recycled.”