Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

The Life Cycle and Migration Pattern of the Monarch Butterfly

The diagram below shows the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly.

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

1.mating and egg laying
2.eggs on milkweed
3.newly hatched larva
4.caterpillar on milkweed
5.attachment of larva
6.chrysalis
7.emergence of adult
8.migration south
9.migration north

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 in the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly, alongside its seasonal migration patterns. The process is cyclical, beginning with reproduction and ending with the adult butterfly's migration.

Initially, the cycle commences with mating and egg-laying, which leads to the deposition of eggs on milkweed. Following a period of approximately 4 days, these eggs hatch into larvae. The newly hatched larva then develops into a caterpillar that feeds on milkweed. Subsequently, the caterpillar undergoes a process of attachment before transforming into a chrysalis. This pupal stage lasts for about 10 days, after which the adult butterfly emerges.

Once the adult has emerged, the butterfly engages in a migration south. This phase is followed by a migration north, which is noted to take approximately 6 months. After completing this migration, the butterflies return to the mating and egg-laying stage, thereby restarting the cycle. Overall, the butterfly's development from egg to adult is relatively rapid, whereas the migratory phases represent the most time-consuming segments of the entire life cycle.

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

How to write about 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.

cyclical: occurring in a repeating series of events
commences: to begin or start a specific process
subsequently: happening after something else has already occurred
transforming: undergoing a complete change in physical form
segments: distinct parts or sections of a whole
illustrates: provides a visual representation of information clearly

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The life cycle of the Monarch butterfly is a continuous process involving several distinct developmental stages and a significant long-distance migration.

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.