The production processes of cement and the subsequent creation of concrete
The diagrams below show the stages and equipment used in the cement-making process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
- 1.Crushing limestone and clay
- 2.Mixing the crushed materials
- 3.Heating in a rotating heater
- 4.Grinding the heated material
- 5.Packaging into bags
- 1.Combining cement (15%)
- 2.Adding water (10%)
- 3.Adding sand (25%)
- 4.Adding gravel (50%)
- 5.Mixing in a concrete mixer
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 diagrams illustrate the industrial stages involved in manufacturing cement and the subsequent process of combining ingredients to produce concrete for construction.
Cement production is a linear process that begins with the crushing of limestone and clay. These raw materials are passed through a mixer to create a powder, which is then fed into a rotating heater. After being subjected to intense heat, the resulting material is processed through a grinder to produce the final cement, which is then packed into bags.
In contrast, the production of concrete is a straightforward mixing operation. To create concrete, four specific components are combined in a concrete mixer. Gravel, defined as small stones, constitutes the largest proportion at 50%, followed by sand at 25%. Cement and water make up the remaining ingredients, accounting for 15% and 10% of the total mixture, respectively. Once these materials are added to the mixer, they are rotated together to form the final concrete product. Overall, while cement manufacturing requires complex machinery and thermal processing, concrete production is primarily a matter of blending precise ratios of materials.
180 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.
- constitutes
- to be the parts that form something
- subsequent
- happening or coming after something else
- proportion
- a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation
- linear
- arranged in or extending along a straight line
- respectively
- in the order previously mentioned
- straightforward
- uncomplicated and easy to understand or do
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Frequently asked questions
What should the overview say?
The cement production process is a multi-stage industrial sequence involving heating and grinding, whereas concrete production is a simpler mixing process requiring specific proportions of four distinct ingredients.
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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