The Production Process of Instant Coffee for Retail Sale
The diagram below shows how coffee is produced and prepared for sale in supermarkets and shops.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
- 1.Pick the coffee beans
- 2.Dry them
- 3.Roast the beans
- 4.Cool them rapidly
- 5.Grind them
- 6.Mix with hot water
- 7.Strain the mixture
- 8.Freeze the mixture
- 9.Grind the frozen liquid
- 10.Dry it in a vacuum
- 11.Pack into jars
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 involved in the production of instant coffee, from the initial harvesting of beans to the final packaging for retail sale. Overall, the process is linear and consists of eleven distinct steps, transitioning from raw agricultural produce to a refined, shelf-ready product.
The process commences with the picking of coffee beans, which are subsequently dried under the sun. Once dried, the beans undergo a roasting phase, followed by rapid cooling. The roasted beans are then ground and combined with hot water. This mixture is strained to remove solids, after which the resulting liquid is frozen.
In the final stages, the frozen liquid is ground into smaller particles and subjected to a vacuum-drying process, which removes water content. This method ensures the coffee is preserved for long-term storage. Finally, the processed coffee is packed into jars, ready for distribution to supermarkets and shops. The entire sequence highlights the transformation of raw coffee cherries into the convenient instant coffee format commonly found in retail environments, emphasising the technical nature of modern food processing.
177 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.
- commences
- to begin or start a specific process
- subsequently
- happening after something else in a sequence
- linear
- arranged in a straight or sequential order
- transformation
- a thorough or dramatic change in form
- distinct
- recognizably different in nature from something else
- emphasising
- giving special importance or prominence to something
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Frequently asked questions
What should the overview say?
The production of instant coffee is a complex multi-stage process that begins with harvesting raw beans and concludes with vacuum-drying and packaging the final product.
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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