Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

A diagram illustrating the industrial production process of manufacturing cheese

The diagram below shows how cheese is made.

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

  1. 1.Acidification of raw milk with bacteria and enzyme
  2. 2.Solidification into curds
  3. 3.Cutting curds into small pieces
  4. 4.Heating and draining
  5. 5.Adding salt
  6. 6.Shaping
  7. 7.Fermentation for 2 months
  8. 8.Packaging
  9. 9.Distribution to shops

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.

Band 8 sample answer

The provided diagram illustrates the various stages involved in the commercial production of cheese. Overall, the process is a linear sequence consisting of nine distinct steps, starting from the initial treatment of raw milk and ending with the product being sold in shops.

The process commences with the acidification of raw milk, where bacteria and an enzyme are added to initiate the transformation. This leads to the second stage, where the milk solidifies into curds. These curds are subsequently cut into smaller pieces, which are then subjected to a combined heating and draining process. Following this, salt is added to the mixture to enhance flavour and preservation.

Once the salt has been incorporated, the mixture undergoes a shaping phase to form the cheese into its desired structure. The shaped cheese is then left to ferment for a period of two months. After this maturation period, the final product is packaged, which prepares it for the final stage of the process: being transported and sold in retail shops. The entire procedure transforms raw ingredients into a finished food product through a series of carefully controlled physical and chemical changes.

188 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about process diagrams

commences
to begin or start a particular process
subsequently
happening after something else in a sequence
incorporate
to take in or include as part
maturation
the process of becoming fully developed or aged
linear
arranged in or extending along a straight line
distinct
recognizably different in nature from something else

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The production of cheese is a multi-stage linear process that begins with the acidification of raw milk and concludes with the distribution of the final product to retail shops.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

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 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.

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