Writing Task 1 of the IELTS Academic test can be tricky, especially when it comes to process diagrams. Many students lose valuable marks simply because they don’t know how to describe the diagram accurately and clearly.
In this article, we’ll compare a Band 5 vs Band 7 response to the same process task — “The diagram below shows how chocolate is produced.” — and explain the three most common mistakes that cost students big. Plus, you’ll get a quick infographic summary of 5 top phrases to describe processes like a pro!
🆚 Band 5 vs Band 7 – What’s the Difference?
Task: Describe the process of making chocolate, from harvesting cocoa beans to producing the final product.
🟡 Band 5 Sample (Common Issues):
The cocoa beans are collected from trees. Then they are dried under the sun. After this, they are packed in bags. Then they are sent to factory. The beans are roasted and ground. Chocolate is made.
Why it’s a Band 5:
- Very basic sentence structures
- Lacks clarity and logical grouping
- Misses important stages (e.g. fermentation)
- Poor grammar (“sent to factory” should be “sent to a factory”)
🟢 Band 7 Sample (Improved Version):
The process of chocolate production begins with ripe cocoa pods being harvested from cacao trees. The beans are extracted and left to ferment for several days before being dried under the sun. Following this stage, they are packed into large sacks and transported to a factory, where they are roasted at high temperatures. After roasting, the shells are removed and the beans are ground into liquid, which is then processed into chocolate.
Why it’s a Band 7:
- Covers all key steps, including minor stages like fermentation
- Uses a mix of passive voice and sequencing phrases
- Groups related steps logically
- Grammar and vocabulary are much more accurate and varied
❌ 3 “Deadly” Mistakes Most Students Make
- Missing Minor Steps Skipping small steps like fermentation or shell removal results in incomplete data description, which heavily affects the Task Achievement score.
- Incorrect Verb Tense All descriptions of process diagrams should be in the present simple passive (e.g. “The beans are roasted”). Using past tense or active voice incorrectly will lower your score in Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
- Failing to Group Information Describing each step individually without logical grouping makes your writing feel mechanical and hard to follow. IELTS examiners expect you to group stages based on logical phases (e.g. harvesting → preparation → manufacturing).
🧾 Infographic: 5 Essential Phrases to Describe a Process
(Use these to boost your Coherence & Cohesion)
- Following this stage,
- The next step involves…
- At this point,
- Subsequently,
- This is followed by…
✅ Final Thought:
To score Band 7+ in Task 1 (Process), you need more than just listing steps. Show the examiner that you can summarize complex information, use appropriate grammar, and organize your ideas logically. Practice with real diagrams and always double-check for missing steps and tense consistency!
