Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

The Industrial Process Involved in the Production of Soft Cheese: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 process diagram question with a Band 8 sample answer, the chart redrawn with its data, the vocabulary that lifts the report and how to write about process diagrams.
  • 190 words
  • Process diagrams
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The diagram below shows the process of making soft cheese.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

  1. 1.Mixing water and milk
  2. 2.Cooling at 5°C for 2 hours
  3. 3.Adding salt
  4. 4.Fermentation at 35°C for 2 hours
  5. 5.Evaporation at 100°C for 8 hours
  6. 6.Cooling at 5°C for 8 hours
  7. 7.Filtering to separate soft cheese and waste water

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8190 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided diagram illustrates the various stages involved in the manufacturing of soft cheese, starting from the initial mixing of raw ingredients to the final filtration of the product.

Overall, the process is characterised by a sequence of temperature-controlled treatments, including mixing, fermentation, evaporation, and cooling, which transform liquid ingredients into a solid food product.

The procedure begins with the mixing of water and milk, which is immediately followed by a cooling phase at 5°C for a duration of two hours. Once cooled, salt is added to the mixture before it undergoes fermentation at 35°C for another two hours. This step is essential for preparing the mixture for the subsequent thermal treatment.

Following fermentation, the mixture is subjected to evaporation at 100°C for eight hours, a stage that involves the release of steam. Finally, the product undergoes a second cooling phase, also maintained at 5°C for eight hours. The process concludes with a filtration stage, which separates the final soft cheese product from the remaining waste water. Throughout the cycle, the consistency of the mixture changes from a liquid state to a thicker substance, ultimately resulting in the finished cheese.

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Process diagrams

How to write about process diagrams: tips and vocabulary

  • →Say how many stages there are and where the process starts and ends.
  • →Use the passive and sequencers: first, after this, once, finally.
  • →Keep every stage; a missing step costs task achievement.
  • characterised by

    having a particular feature or quality as typical

  • subsequent

    coming after something in time or order

  • duration

    the length of time something continues to exist

  • subjected to

    to be forced to experience a specific process

  • concludes

    to bring something to an end or finish

  • alternates

    to occur in turns or switch between states

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The production of soft cheese is a multi-stage process that alternates between heating and cooling phases while incorporating specific ingredients and filtration steps.

How many words and how long for IELTS Writing Task 1?+

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A clear overview of the main features is what most separates Band 6 from Band 7 and above.

How do I describe process diagrams?+

Say how many stages there are and where the process starts and ends. Use the passive and sequencers: first, after this, once, finally. Keep every stage; a missing step costs task achievement.

Keep practising

More process diagrams

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