WRITING TASK 1 SAMPLE ANSWER (PROCESS QUESTION)

Here is a band 9 IELTS task 2 sample answer for you about the process of silk production.

In the IELTS writing task 1 you may get one of 7 questions.

- Bar Chart

- Line Graph

- Pie Chart

- Table

- Progressive Bar Chart

- Map

- Process Diagram

You could also get a combination of these and be asked to compare them.

Today we will look at a process diagram, featuring the life cycle of the silkworm and the production of silk cloth. 

This question is interesting because it has two different stages and this will affect our answer structure and grammar.

1. Structure

With this kind of question I would use the following structure.

Paragraph 1

Sentence 1 - Paraphrase Question

We simply take the question and use synonyms to paraphrase it. The examiner will be looking for your ability to do this in the exam.

Paragraph 2

Sentence 1 - Overview of stage 1

Sentence 2 - Overview of stage 2

Write two general things about the diagram. You could include such things as how many stages there are, the outcomes, the beginning and the end, if it is a natural or man-made process or if the process is cyclical or linear.

Paragraph 3

Sentence 1 - Details of stage 1

Sentence 2 - Details of stage 1

Sentence 3 - Details of stage 1

Take the general statement you made in paragraph 2 and support them with details from the diagram. Remember to only use the information you can see in the diagram. Do not draw conclusions or give your opinion. Repeat with the next paragraph.

Paragraph 4

Sentence 1 - Details of stage 2

Sentence 2 - Details of stage 2

Sentence 3 - Details of stage 2

2. Grammar - The Passive

When describing any of the chart questions you shouldn’t use the passive, but when describing a process you may have to.

However, the passive is only used to describe man-made processes. If you are given a natural process you should use the active, rather than the passive. Therefore, in this answer I will use the active to describe the life cycle and use the passive to describe the manufacture of silk.

Sample Answer

The graphic illustrates the life process of the silkworm and the phases in the manufacture of silk material.

Overall, the lifecycle is a natural process and contains four cyclical phases, beginning with the laying of eggs and ending with the birth of a new moth from a cocoon. The production of silk is, in contrast to the previous stage, a man-made linear process comprising of 6 main stages.

To begin with, eggs are produced by the moth and it takes 10 days for the eggs to hatch into silkworm larvae that feed on mulberry leaves. This stage takes between 4 and 6 weeks before the worms construct a cocoon from silk thread, taking approximately one week. They stay there for around a fortnight, subsequently emerging as moths and the process can begin again.

The first stage in the manufacture of silk is the selection of cocoons and these are then boiled. Once boiled, the silk thread is unwound to a length of between 300 and 900 meters. Finally, the silk can be twisted and weaved into cloth before being dyed. (180 words)

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