Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

The process of collecting and treating rainwater for domestic drinking water

The diagram below shows how rainwater is collected and then treated to be used as drinking water in an Australian town.

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

Rainwater collection and treatment process
  1. 1.Rainwater is collected from house roofs via drains
  2. 2.Water is transported through a pipe network to a central filtration system
  3. 3.Filtered water is sent to a storage tank
  4. 4.Water is moved from storage to a treatment tank
  5. 5.Chemicals are added to the water in the treatment tank
  6. 6.Treated water is distributed back to houses for drinking

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 systematic process of collecting, treating, and distributing rainwater for use as drinking water in an Australian town. Overall, the system operates as a closed loop, beginning with the collection of precipitation from residential rooftops and concluding with the delivery of treated water back to the houses.

In the initial stage, rainwater falling on the roofs of houses is captured by drains. These drains feed into a network of pipes that transport the collected water towards a central filtration unit. Once the water passes through the filter, it is directed into a large storage tank. This stage ensures that debris and larger impurities are removed before the water undergoes further processing.

Following storage, the water is transferred to a treatment tank. Here, chemicals are introduced to the water to ensure it meets safety standards for human consumption. Finally, the treated water is pumped through a distribution pipe network back to the individual houses, where it becomes available as drinking water. The entire cycle demonstrates an efficient method of water management, ensuring that natural rainfall is repurposed to meet the domestic needs of the town's residents.

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

How to write about process diagrams

systematic
done according to a fixed plan or system
closed loop
a system that is self-contained and circular
harvested
collected or gathered for future use
impurities
substances that make something dirty or impure
repurposed
adapted for a different use or purpose
distribution
the action of sharing or supplying something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The process illustrates a cyclical system where rainwater is harvested from residential roofs, filtered, stored, chemically treated, and finally distributed back to households for consumption.

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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