IELTS Writing task 1: describing a diagram

1. Introduction
2. General overview
3. Specific features

1. Introduction
The first paragraph of your answer should be an introduction. For the introduction, you need to
paraphrase the topic in your own words. It shouldn't be longer that 2 sentences.

You should start your task 1 answer by introducing the graph from your question. Just write 1-2
sentences to say what your graph shows and for what period of time (if there is one).

To do this, you need to paraphrase text from your task 1 question.

Example of good introduction:

Question:

The diagram explains the way in which steel rods are produced for the furniture industry.

You could also write the introduction in another way:

The diagram shows the process of metal rods production for the furniture industry.

In fact, there are plenty of ways to write your introduction. Just keep in mind that you should use
synonyms and paraphrase the topic from your question card.

Introduction:
The bar charts show data about computer ownership, with a further classification by level of
education, from 2002 to 2010.

To write a good introduction, follow these techniques:

1. Change introductory expressions

the graph/chart/table/diagram

o gives information about/on

o provides information about/on
o shows
o illustrates
o represents
o depicts
o gives reason why (only if graph provides reasons for smth)
o explains why (only if graph provides explanation for smth)

1
 o compares (only if several items are compared)

Attention with word compare! You can say:

o compares smth in terms of smth

the charts compare two cities in terms of the number of employed people.
o compares smth in year1 and year2
the graph compares the population in 2000 and 2013.

Examples:

• “The pie charts provide information on the proportion of males and females working in
agricultural sector.” OR “The pie charts show the proportion of males and females
working in agricultural sector.”
• “The table compares five companies in terms of the number of employees.” OR “The
table illustrates the number of employees in five companies.”

• • number of employees in five companies.”

• Paraphrasing

You can rewrite a phrase by using the word how:

• shows the number of people ... = shows how many people ...
• depicts changes in spending on ... = depicts how much changed spending on ...

You can rewrite a phrase by using synonyms:

• number of = quantity of (not interchangeable with amount of)

• spending = expenditure
• rate = percentage
• ratio = proportion
• information = data
• change can be sometimes replaced by increase, decrease or variation
• share = portion
• place = site

• Time periods

• from 1985 to 1995 = between 1985 and 1995

• in 1985 = in the year 1985
• in 1985 and 1995 = in 1985 and 1995 respectively = in the years 1985 and 1995

Examples:

• The table shows consumption rates from 2001 to 2004.

• The graph shows consumption rates in 2012 and 2015 respectively.

2
2. Overview
After the introduction, you should give a general overview to summarize what’s going on in the
diagram. Unlike line graphs, pie charts and bar charts, diagrams have no general trends or key
changes to identify. So, in the overview paragraph you need to write:

1. how the process begins and ends

2. the number of stages

If the diagram has loops or repeating stages, or your process is cyclic - write that in your
overview too!

Here is a good way to write a general overview:

Overall, the process consists of eleven stages, beginning with the raw material and ending up
with the product’s inspection.

Always use word overall to start your overview. This way you will indicate the examiner that
you’re describing general trends.

3. Specific features
After you've given the overview, you should write about specific details of your diagram. To do
that, you need to describe each stage of your process in detail. Don't forget that you should
provide information in a logical way!

Using connectors

Process is a series of changes that happen over time. That's why time connectors are extremely
important for writing about process diagrams. Use these time connectors to describe specific
features of your diagram:

• first of all
• firstly
• to begin
• after that
• then
• next
• in the next stage
• following this
• subsequently
• finally
• Using additional information
• Your diagram will often provide you some additional information and hints for most
stages of the process. Make sure that you use all that information while describing
specific features of your diagram!

3
 • However, sometimes you may see that some stage lacks information for description. For
example, we only know that the third stage of our process is called refinement and it
happens in a smelting cabin. But we don't know what exactly happens during this stage.
• In this case, you can use a verb to undergo. To undergo = to experience. For example,
you can write: "the material undergoes refinement in a smelting cabin".

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram illustrates how bees produce honey.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

4
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram below shows the recycling process of aluminium cans.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

5
The diagram shows how electricity is generated by a hydroelectric dam.

Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer explaining how the process works.