Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

The multistage industrial production process of canned pear fruit products

The diagram below shows the multistage production of pears as canned fruits.

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

  1. 1.Hand Picking
  2. 2.Transporting
  3. 3.Washing
  4. 4.Quality Checking
  5. 5.Cold Storing
  6. 6.Weighing / Grading
  7. 7.Peeling
  8. 8.Coring / Slicing
  9. 9.Canning
  10. 10.Sealing
  11. 11.Cooking / Sterilizing
  12. 12.Labeling
  13. 13.Storage
  14. 14.Dispatch

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 flowchart illustrates the various stages involved in the industrial production of canned pears, starting from the initial harvest and ending with the distribution of the final product.

Overall, the process is a linear sequence consisting of fourteen distinct steps, which can be broadly categorised into initial preparation, fruit processing, and final packaging and distribution.

The process commences with hand picking the pears, which are then transported to a facility for washing. Following this, the fruit undergoes a quality check before being placed in cold storage. Once retrieved, the pears are weighed and graded, after which they are peeled, cored, and sliced in preparation for canning. This initial phase ensures that only high-quality fruit proceeds to the subsequent manufacturing stages.

In the final phase, the prepared fruit is placed into cans and sealed. The sealed cans then undergo a cooking and sterilizing process to ensure safety and longevity. After this, the cans are labeled and moved to a storage area. The entire production cycle concludes with the dispatch of the finished canned pears to their final destinations. This systematic approach ensures consistency and quality throughout the manufacturing of the canned fruit.

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

How to write about process diagrams

commences
to begin or start a specific process
subsequent
coming after something else in a sequence
broadly categorised
grouped into general sections for easier understanding
linear sequence
a series of events following one another
concludes
to bring something to an end
systematic
done according to a fixed plan or method

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The production of canned pears involves a fourteen-stage process that begins with the manual harvesting of the fruit and concludes with the final dispatch of the packaged goods.

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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