The flowchart illustrates the production of coloured plastic paper clips in a small factory.

model answer:
There are four main stages in the production of plastic paper clips from this small factory. Two of these stages involve
actual preparation of the clips, while the other two consist of quality control before the clips are sent out from the
factory to the retailers to be sold to the public.
To begin with, molten plastic is poured into three different moulds depending on the colour required; the colours are
red, blue and yellow. Once these clips emerge from the moulds a quality control machine checks them for strength.
Unsatisfactory clips are rejected. In the third stage in the process the clips are sorted by hand into two groups, mixed
and single colours. When this stage is complete the groups are checked a second time to ensure that the colour
mixtures are divided correctly into single colours and mixed colour batches. Finally, the clips are packed and
dispatched to the markets.
(152 words)

Below is a map of the city of Brandfield. City planners have decided

to build a new shopping mall for the area, and two sites, S1 and S2
have been proposed.

Map of Brandfield with two proposed sites for a

shopping mall

Model Answer
The map illustrates plans for two possible sites for a shopping mall in the city of Brandfield. It
can be seen that the two sites under consideration are in the north and the south east of the
town.
The first possible site for the shopping mall, S1, is just north of the city centre, above the railway
line, which runs from the south east of the city to the north west. If it is built here, it will be next
to a large housing estate, thus providing easy access for those living on the estate and in the city
centre. It will also be next to the river, which runs through the town.

The site in the south east, S2, is again just by the railway line and fairly close to the city centre,
but it is near to an industrial estate rather than housing.
There is a main road that runs through the city and is close to both sites, thus providing good
road access to either location. A large golf course and park in the west of the town prevents this
area from being available as a site.

The diagram shows how tea leaves are processed into five tea types.

IELTS process writing sample answer

The diagram presents the manufacture of five different types of tea. It is immediately apparent
that although all the teas are produced from the same leaf, the differences in the manufacturing
process result in five different types of tea.
The first three stages of manufacture are the same for all of the five teas. The leaves are grown,
they are then plucked, and following this withering of the leaves occurs. The final stage is also

the same, which sees all the leaves dried in an oven. However, in the stages in between this,
differing methods of production are employed.
To begin, white tea is unique as it involves no other processing. In contrast, green, oolong and
large leaf black tea are all rolled as part of the process. However, while green tea is steamed
before being rolled but is not fermented, the other two teas are first rolled and then both
fermented (oolong only slightly but large leaf black completely). Finally, small leaf black tea is
neither steamed nor rolled, but is crushed before being fully fermented.
_________________________________________

Comments
This IELTS process writing sample is a well-organized response that covers all the important
features of the diagram.
It is easy to follow as it discusses each tea in turn, but not only this, it also groups similar
processes together and identifies the differences.
For example:
Similarities:
The first three stages of manufacture are the same for all of the five teas.
green, oolong and large leaf black tea are all rolled as part of the process.
Differences:
white tea is unique as it involves no other processing.
However, while green tea is steamed before being rolled but is not fermented, the other two teas
are first rolled and then both fermented.
The candidate decides to mention the first three stages and the last one together in one
paragraph as they are exactly the same for every tea, and the differing stages in the middle
following this.
This may seem odd to mention the stages in this order, and it is likely that when you describe a
process you will discuss each stage in turn, but for this particular process it works well as the
candidate can then focus on the differences.
The appropriate voice is also used in the description, which is the passive.
When we write about a process, we are interested in the actions, NOT who is doing them. In this
case we use the passive voice. Here are some examples of the passive voice from this IELTS
writing sample process:
...the teas are produced from the same leaf

The leaves are grown, they are then plucked

...differing methods of production are employed
It may not always be possible, but if you can you should also try to use synonyms for some of
the words from the diagram rather than copying them all.
For example, completely fermented is used instead of fully.
Make sure you also make use of a mix of time transitions to guide the reader through the
description:
they are then plucked, and following this withering of the leaves occurs.
the other two teas are first rolled and then both fermented
The candidate also demonstrates the ability to accurately use a mix of complex
structures necessary to achieve above a band 6 for grammatical range and accuracy:
Noun Clauses:
It is immediately apparent that although all the teas are produced from the same leaf...
Relative Clauses:
The final stage is also the same, which sees all the leaves dried in an oven.
Adverbial Clauses:
although all the teas are produced from the same leaf
white tea is unique as it involves no other processing.
while green tea is steamed before being rolled but is not fermented,
See the IELTS grammar page for an explanation of what is required for grammar in writing task
1 and 2..

The map below is of the town of Garlsdon. A new supermarket (S) is planned for the
town. The map shows two possible sites for the supermarket.

Sample Answer :

The map shows two potential locations (S1 and S2) for a new supermarket in a town called Garlsdon.
The main difference between the two sites is that S1 is outside the town, whereas S2 is in the town centre.
The sites can also be compared in terms of access by road or rail, and their positions relative to three
smaller towns.
Looking at the information in more detail, S1 is in the countryside to the north west of Garlsdon, but it is
close to the residential area of the town. S2 is also close to the housing area, which surrounds the town
centre.
There are main roads from Hindon, Bransdon and Cransdon to Garlsdon town centre, but this is a no
traffic zone, so there would be no access to S2 by car. By contrast, S1 lies on the main road to Hindon, but
it would be more difficult to reach from Bransdon and Cransdon. Both supermarket sites are close to the
railway that runs through Garlsdon from Hindon to Cransdon.
The diagram shows how electricity is generated by a hydroelectric dam.

Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer explaining how the process works.

Model Answer
The diagram illustrates the basic principles of hydroelectric power. The process requires the construction
of a large dam connected to a powerhouse. The dam creates a large reservoir and the powerhouse is
where the electricity is generated.
First of all, water trapped in the reservoir behind the dam is forced through an intake. It then flows into a
narrow chamber called a penstock, where the resulting high pressure turns a turbine. The turbine is
connected to a generator in the powerhouse above, and this is where the movement of the turbine is
converted into electricity. The resulting electricity leaves the powerhouse via cables that carry it over long
distances to where it can be used.
It is interesting to note that a hydroelectric dam creates no harmful byproducts and relies entirely on
natural forces to produce electricity. After the turbine stage, water flows out through a second channel and
into a river. The process is renewable, thanks to the water cycle in nature.
(163 words, IELTS 8.0)
Why does this Task 1 answer get an IELTS Band 8 score?
Task achievement: The introduction paraphrases the question and describes the constituent parts of the
process. The body describes each stage of the process in sequence.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer has an introduction, body and conclusion. Sequencing
expressions such as first of all, then and after are used appropriately. The articles a and the are used
effectively to introduce and refer back to different elements of the process.
Lexical resource: The labels in the diagram are well integrated into the model answer and appropriate
verbs such as converted, flows and leaves are used throughout. Less-common words such
as byproducts and renewable are introduced by the writer. Spelling is always accurate.
Grammatical range and accuracy: The writer uses the present simple tense and has good control of
subject-verb agreement and active/passive forms. A good balance of simple and complex sentences is
used throughout.

IELTS Writing Task 1: How to

Organise Your Answer

Heres a quick guide on how to organise an IELTS Writing Task 1 answer into paragraphs. This applies
only to the Academic module. Note that the organisation of the answer may change depending on the
question type.
First paragraph: Introduction
Key technique: Be direct.

When writing an introduction to Task 1, get straight to the point as you only have 20 minutes to write your
answer. One or two sentences are often sufficient. Two things you should try to include in the introduction
are:

Paraphrase of the question: What does the diagram show? (Dont describe the results yet!)
General description: Are the differences great or small, many or few? Is there one very obvious
trend or feature that stands out?
Hint: Many people make the mistake of continuing with all the details. Stop here and begin your first body
paragraph.
Body paragraphs
Key technique: Divide the body into two or three paragraphs.
Use a logical way to divide the body of your report into two or three paragraphs. Are there two or more
sets of data? Great, then write a paragraph about each one. Is there only one set of data? Count the
variables and divide them into two or three groups. You can divide by natural similarity (e.g. some
academic subjects are sciences; others are arts.) Or you can divide by similarity of results (e.g. some
exam scores went up; others went down.) Or you can divide a process, a time period or age range into
two or three stages (e.g. the 20th Century can be divided into the early, mid, and late 20th Century.)
Now that you have a paragraphing system, make sure each paragraph is organised as follows:

Link to the previous paragraph: By contrast, turning to, finally, etc.

Topic sentence: Describe the main point, change or comparison in general terms without giving
specific information.
Supporting sentence(s): Quote a figure or other evidence that supports the claim made in the
topic sentence.
Hint: If you find yourself writing more than two consecutive supporting sentences, include a general
sentence (e.g. There were also significant differences in) to guide the reader, or consider starting a new
paragraph.
Final paragraph: Conclusion
Key technique: Add overall coherence.
Due to lack of time, many people will omit the conclusion from Task 1. However, there are several reasons
you should write a conclusion. One is that writing a summarising sentence takes very little time and may
push you past the 150-word limit. Another is that a good summary can add coherence to your answer,
which could rescue your score if you have drifted a lot. Finally, since the purpose of Task 1 is usually to
compare, the conclusion allows you to make direct comparisons of the different sets of data, which is

especially important if you have described them in separate body paragraphs. Here are some things that
can go in the conclusion to Task 1:

Concluding signal: In conclusion, in summary, overall, etc.

Summary: Paraphrase the overall trend or the two or three main points made in the body. Never

include statistics or other evidence in the conclusion.

Direct comparison: If there are several sets of data, here is your chance to make a connection

between them. Dont go into too much detail.

Prediction: If the data includes a timeframe, you could make a prediction about what is likely to

happen next.
Concluding comment: If you really need some extra words, you could add a comment on the
data. Is it surprisingly, alarming, expected? Comments such as these are not required by the question but
are better than incurring a penalty for not meeting the word requirement.
Hint: You dont need to include all of the above in your conclusion. Two sentences are generally enough.
See model IELTS Writing Task 1 answers for examples of how to use paragraphing in practice.

IELTS Writing Task 2: How to

Organise Your Answer

See below for an easy-to-follow guide to planning, organising and paragraphing an essay in IELTS Writing
Task 2. This advice applies to both General Training and Academic Writing modules, but there are
different ways of organising an answer depending on the question type.

First paragraph: Introduction

Key technique: Dont begin with your thesis statement.
Never begin an essay with I believe, I agree, or In my opinion. These indicate your thesis statement and
should go at the END of your introduction, after you have introduced the topic and problem to be
discussed. As a rule, start generally and take several sentences to build to your main idea. Note that the
style of thesis statement will vary depending on the question type. Study the question carefully first to
determine if you should give your opinion in the introduction or in the conclusion.

Introductory sentence: What topic is to be discussed? Recently, there have been

Narrow the focus: What issue concerning the topic is to be resolved? However, some people

argue that
Thesis statement (opinion essay): What is your opinion on this issue? This essay will argue
that

Thesis statement (argument essay): What will happen in this essay? This essay will look at
both sides of the argument before stating my own opinion.
Thesis statement (problem/solution essay): What are you going to write about? The main
problems are X and Y and I will propose solutions to both in this essay.
Hint: You can choose either to write in the first person (I believe...) or third person (This essay will). The
third person sounds more objective and academic.
Hint: Dont include your main reasons or arguments in the introduction, these should go in each of the
body paragraphs.
Body paragraphs
Key technique: Make a paragraph plan
In Task 2, you will need to write between two and four body paragraphs. Each paragraph should express
one main idea in relation to the thesis statement (see above) and how you order these paragraphs is also
important for the overall coherence of the essay.
In an opinion essay, if you express a strong opinion (I firmly believe), then all body paragraphs should
support it. However, if your opinion is weak (I agree to some extent), consider writing one paragraph
against followed by two paragraphs in favour (see hint below).
In an argument essay, it is best to give equal space to both sides of the argument, which means writing
either two or four body paragraphs. If you write three body paragraphs, i.e. there is clearly a bias towards
one side of the argument, make sure your final opinion is in favour of that side!
In a problem/solution essay, make sure you give equal treatment to all parts of the question. Two
problems and two solutions are enough. It is best not to write about problems you cant offer solutions to.

There are many ways to organise such an essay. You can write about a problem and its solution in one
paragraph or you can deal with all the problems first and the solutions later.
Once you have decided on a paragraph plan, make sure each paragraph is organised as follows:

Link to the previous paragraph: First, Furthermore, On the other hand, etc.
Topic sentence: Describe the main idea of the paragraph in general terms.
Supporting sentences: Use examples or further explanation to support the claim made in the

topic sentence.
Qualifying sentence: Sometimes it is clear that an idea isnt perfect or there may be exceptions.

You can point this out as long as you dont destroy your main idea completely.
Summarising sentence: If you have included a qualifying sentence, or if you have written
several supporting sentences, consider returning to your main point by paraphrasing your topic sentence
at the end.
Hint: If one of your body paragraphs goes against your main idea, put this paragraph first so that the
remaining body paragraphs flow logically to your conclusion. The same is true in an argument essay.
Discuss the side you dont agree with first, so that the opinion expressed in your conclusion follows
naturally from what has come before.
Final paragraph: Conclusion
Key technique: Give your reader something to consider.
One habit of IELTS test-takers is to end with a simple summary of their opinion and main ideas. This is
absolutely fine and can add essential extra coherence, but try also adding some kind of concluding
comment. This will leave the examiner with a powerful final impression of your essay when he or she
comes to score it. A full conclusion should contain:

Concluding signal: In conclusion, In summary, Overall, etc.

(Re)state opinion: In an opinion essay, you can simply paraphrase your original thesis

statement. In an argument essay, this is where you state your opinion, often using a phrase such
as Having considered both sides of the argument, I believe
Summary: Paraphrase the main idea of each body paragraph in very brief terms. Never include

examples or explanations. These go in the body of the essay.

Concluding comment: Give the reader something to think about. Highlight the importance of the
issue you have just discussed. Ask the reader to consider the future consequences if the issue is not
resolved. Recommend a course of action that the reader or society should follow.
Hint: Dont include anything in the introduction that is completely new or requires detailed explanation.
This is also true for the concluding comment. Keep it obvious. Dont write an idea that you then need to
explain.

See model IELTS Writing Task 2 answers for examples of how to use paragraphing in practice.