IELTS WRITING

PROCESSES

I INTERPRETING VISUAL INFORMATION

TASK 1
Look at the diagram and answer the following questions.
1 What does the diagram show?
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2 What process is sunlight needed for?
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3 What is the product of photosynthesis?
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4 Where does organic carbon go first? In what ways?
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5 What does the organic carbon trapped underground form?
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6 In how many ways is the rest organic carbon released into the air? In what form?
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7 Where does the CO2 go afterwards?
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II STRUCTURING YOUR WRITING

Paragraph Function

1 Introduction: A summary of what the diagram illustrates. Note how many

stages there are, and the first and final or the most important stages.

Main body Group the information in a logical order in paragraphs. If there are many stages,
paragraphs include closely connected stages in the same paragraph, ignore minor steps and
focus on the main points. If there are a few stages, discuss each stage in its own
paragraph.

III WRITING THE INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

TASK 2
Write the introduction and overview for the above question.
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IV SEQUENCING
TASK 3
A The following text is a model answer to the question above. Fill the gaps with ONE WORD.
a To begin with, plants (1)………………………… carbon dioxide and water and turn them into
organic carbon, using (2)…………………………, in a process known as (3)…………………………
b Following this, organic carbon goes (4)………………………… when plants and animals die and
decay. Part of the organic carbon from dead organisms and waste products, that is
(5)………………………… underground, forms fossils and fossil fuels.
c The rest organic carbon is subsequently (6)………………………… back into the atmosphere,
which is the third phase in the cycle, by (7)………………………… means. One is when animals
and plants (8)…………………………, and the other is when humans burn fossil fuels in
(9)………………………… and factories. All this carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2.
d In the last stage, carbon dioxide is reabsorbed by plants, and the process begins again,
(10)………………………… the carbon cycle in nature.

B Match paragraphs a-d with summaries 1-4.

1 Plants’ reabsorption of carbon dioxide ............................
2 Release of carbon into the air ............................
3 Organic carbon formation ............................
4 Fossil and fossil fuel formation ............................

C Underline the linking words and phrases in the model answer.

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V USING THE PRESENT SIMPLE PASSIVE TO DESCRIBE A PROCESS

TASK 4
Read these pairs of sentences. Which in each pair sounds more natural? Why?
1a A lorry driver delivers boxes of tea to supermarkets.
1b Boxes of tea are delivered to supermarkets by lorry.
2a The tea leaves are picked and put into boxes.
2b A farm worker picks the tea leaves and puts them in boxes.
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Technique
- When you write about processes, use an active verb for:
………………………… processes: The sun shines, and the plants grow.
- Use a passive for:
1 processes where who does the action is not …………………………: The tea leaves are
picked.
2 the ………………………… of producing something: The tea is dried, and then packed into
boxes.

TASK 5

The diagram shows what happens when a tourist arrives at a US airport. Number the sentences in
the correct order to describe the process. Then complete the sentences with the active or passive
form of the verbs in brackets.
a In this final phase, the second interview may resolve any problems and for this reason the
tourist will be approved for entry. However, if the second interview is still a problem, the
tourist may have to (leave)………………………… due to the negative outcome.

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b First of all, the tourist completes an entry form during the flight and (get)…………………………
his/ her passport and visa ready.
c If (approve)…………………………, the tourist then goes to the baggage reclaim to collect his/ her
luggage and can enter the country.
d The process shown in the diagram illustrates the steps (follow)………………………… when a
tourist goes through the immigration process to enter the USA.
e The next stage is at the airport. On arrival, the form is inspected by a border officer and the
tourist is asked questions. A decision (made)………………………… as a consequence of this
interview.
f This decision is the end of the process for most people because there is no complication and
therefore entry (approve)…………………………
g Occasionally there are some concerns in the interview and because of this, a second interview
may (require)…………………………

VI GIVING EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT A STAGE

Technique
To extend and improve your answer, you can describe what happens in a stage, and then add
some extra details or explain why it happens.
The tea leaves are put on the ground in the sun, so that they can be dried.

TASK 6
Join each pair of sentences using the words in brackets.
1 The fruit is sent to a factory. It is put into cans there. (where)
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2 The biscuits are put in the oven. They are cooked. (in order)
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3 The farmer waters the plants. This makes them grow more quickly. (which)
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4 The mushrooms are stored in a dark room. This helps them to stay fresh. (so that)
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TASK 7

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram below shows the life cycle of a frog.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Use the cues given to write complete sentences about the process above.
1 Initially/ eggs/ which/ call frogspawn/ float/ surface/ pond.
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2 / step after this/ emergence/ small tadpole/ has/ small body and/ long tail.
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3 At this point/ tadpole/ develop and its body enlarge while/ tail become longer.
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4 Gradually/ legs appear/ order/ prepare/ tadpole/ its future life/ land.
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5 Eventually/ tadpole/ start/ change/ young frog/ wider mouth/ reduced tail and bigger legs.
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6 At this point/ young frog continue/ live/ pond.
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7 Over time/ frog mature/ move/ land.
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8 As/ result/ land, it/ breathe air/ it lose its tail.
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9 / final stage/ when/ frog find/ mate/ as/ produce eggs.
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10 / completed all/ steps/ lifecycle begin again.
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