Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

A diagram illustrating the process of the greenhouse effect on Earth

The following diagram shows how greenhouse gases trap energy from the Sun.

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

The Greenhouse Effect
  1. 1.Sunlight reaches the Earth's surface
  2. 2.Some energy is reflected off the atmosphere
  3. 3.Heat energy is radiated from the surface into space
  4. 4.Human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation increase greenhouse gases
  5. 5.Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere

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 mechanism of the greenhouse effect, highlighting how human activities exacerbate the trapping of solar energy within the Earth's atmosphere. The process begins with solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, where some energy is reflected back into space, while other portions are radiated as heat.

Overall, the diagram demonstrates that the accumulation of greenhouse gases, driven by industrial and human actions, disrupts the natural balance of heat dissipation. This leads to an increased retention of heat within the atmosphere rather than its release into space.

Specifically, the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles and industrial factories releases significant quantities of extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the felling of trees, which naturally act as carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide, further diminishes the Earth's capacity to mitigate these emissions. Consequently, these combined factors result in a higher concentration of greenhouse gases. As these gases accumulate, they effectively trap the heat radiated from the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space. This cycle ultimately intensifies the warming effect on the planet, as the atmosphere retains more energy than it would under natural conditions.

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

How to write about process diagrams

exacerbate
to make a problem or situation much worse
dissipation
the process of slowly disappearing or scattering away
mitigate
to make something less severe, serious, or painful
accumulation
the process of gradually gathering or increasing in amount
consequently
as a result of a particular action or situation
intensifies
to become or make something much more strong

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The diagram illustrates how human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, contribute to the greenhouse effect by increasing atmospheric gases that trap solar heat.

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.

More process diagrams