Task 1 Process Diagrams for the IELTS Exam

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

• !Using past tense ("was transferred") instead of present passive ("is transferred")
• !Listing steps without grouping into logical phases
• !Forgetting to write the overview
• !Copying labels verbatim from the diagram instead of paraphrasing

Study tips

• 1Memorize 10 sequencing phrases ("Firstly,", "In the next stage,", "Subsequently,").
• 2Drill the present-simple passive voice ("is heated to 200°C", "is then poured into…").
• 3Practice grouping steps into phases (e.g., preparation → transformation → packaging).
• 4Always write the 2-sentence overview describing how many stages and the start/end product.

Sample IELTS Task 1 Process Diagrams questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real IELTS questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1. 1

   In an Academic Task 1 process diagram, the dominant verb form is:

   • APast simple active
   • BPresent simple active
   • CPresent simple passiveCorrect
   • DFuture passive
   Why this answer?

   Process diagrams describe a generic, repeatable process. The present simple passive ("is heated", "is mixed") is the correct form because the agent (who heats it) is irrelevant.