Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

A diagram illustrating the nine-stage manufacturing process of bamboo fabric

The diagram below shows how fabric is manufactured from bamboo.

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

How bamboo fabric is made
  1. 1.Plant bamboo plants (Spring)
  2. 2.Harvest (Autumn)
  3. 3.Cut into strips
  4. 4.Crush strips to make liquid pulp
  5. 5.Filter to separate long fibres from liquid
  6. 6.Soften fibres by adding water and amine oxide
  7. 7.Spin
  8. 8.Weave to make fabric
  9. 9.Finished products (socks and t-shirt)

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 nine distinct stages involved in the manufacturing of fabric from bamboo plants. Overall, the process is a linear sequence that transforms raw organic material into finished textile products through a combination of mechanical and chemical treatments.

The process commences in the spring with the planting of bamboo, followed by the harvesting stage in the autumn. Once harvested, the bamboo stalks are cut into smaller strips. These strips undergo a crushing process to produce a liquid pulp, which is then filtered to separate the long fibres from the remaining liquid.

In the subsequent phase, the fibres are softened through the addition of water and amine oxide. Once the fibres are prepared, they are spun into yarn. This yarn is then woven to create the final fabric. The entire manufacturing cycle concludes with the production of finished items, specifically socks and t-shirts. Throughout the process, the transformation moves from raw agricultural cultivation to industrial processing, ultimately resulting in consumer-ready apparel.

163 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
subsequent
coming after something else in a sequence
linear sequence
a series of steps following one another
transformation
a thorough or dramatic change in form
concludes
to bring an event or process to end
distinct
recognizably different in nature from something else

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The production of bamboo fabric is a nine-stage process that begins with the cultivation and harvesting of bamboo plants and concludes with the creation of finished textile products.

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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