How to prepare for IELTS – Writing

Part 3

 How to do Task 1 – Processes and flowcharts 

• Spend about 5 minutes studying the flow chart or diagram and preparing your answer.

• Make sure you understand what the important stages of the flow chart or diagram are and that you know what order they all come in. Find a place to begin and work your way through or around the diagram or chart.

• You will need to include all the stages in your description.

• Make sure you are aware of any stages that happen at the same time as other stages or are alternatives.

• You will probably be using the present simple passive and present simple if you are describing a process.

• Use any notes on the diagram but put them into your own words.

• Think about varying your vocabulary. Use synonyms. If, for example, the diagram describes jobs – interchange ‘jobs’, ‘occupations’, ‘types of employment/work’ etc.

• Make sure you organize your information clearly. You will need an introduction and body for this report. A conclusion is not necessary. 

   -       Your introduction should introduce the process or flow chart and give an overview to summarize its overall function. 

   -       Your body will describe the process or flow chart in a logical order.

• For this report you will need to guide the reader with sequence expressions such as ‘first of all’, ‘after that’, ‘at the same time’, ‘concurrently’ etc.

• Don’t copy phrases from the instructions as this will not be assessed. Use your own words.

• Don’t take more than 20 minutes over this task.

• Try to write neatly and cross out errors with one line only.

• Leave a couple of minutes to read through what you have written. 

Remember: 

   -       That you will receive a higher mark if your use a range of structures and vocabulary. 

   -       You are NOT being asked for your opinion on the information, just to report it. An opinion would be considered ‘irrelevant’ for this task.