Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

A diagram illustrating the process of the greenhouse effect on Earth: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 process diagram question with a Band 8 sample answer, the chart redrawn with its data, the vocabulary that lifts the report and how to write about process diagrams.
  • 188 words
  • Process diagrams
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The following diagram shows how greenhouse gases trap energy from the Sun.

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

The Greenhouse Effect
  1. 1.Sunlight reaches the Earth's surface
  2. 2.Some energy is reflected off the atmosphere
  3. 3.Heat energy is radiated from the surface into space
  4. 4.Human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation increase greenhouse gases
  5. 5.Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere

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.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8188 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided diagram illustrates the mechanism of the greenhouse effect, highlighting how human activities exacerbate the trapping of solar energy within the Earth's atmosphere. The process begins with solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, where some energy is reflected back into space, while other portions are radiated as heat.

Overall, the diagram demonstrates that the accumulation of greenhouse gases, driven by industrial and human actions, disrupts the natural balance of heat dissipation. This leads to an increased retention of heat within the atmosphere rather than its release into space.

Specifically, the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles and industrial factories releases significant quantities of extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the felling of trees, which naturally act as carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide, further diminishes the Earth's capacity to mitigate these emissions. Consequently, these combined factors result in a higher concentration of greenhouse gases. As these gases accumulate, they effectively trap the heat radiated from the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space. This cycle ultimately intensifies the warming effect on the planet, as the atmosphere retains more energy than it would under natural conditions.

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Process diagrams

How to write about process diagrams: tips and vocabulary

  • →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.
  • exacerbate

    to make a problem or situation much worse

  • dissipation

    the process of slowly disappearing or scattering away

  • mitigate

    to make something less severe, serious, or painful

  • accumulation

    the process of gradually gathering or increasing in amount

  • consequently

    as a result of a particular action or situation

  • intensifies

    to become or make something much more strong

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The diagram illustrates how human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, contribute to the greenhouse effect by increasing atmospheric gases that trap solar heat.

How many words and how long for IELTS Writing Task 1?+

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 is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A clear overview of the main features is what most separates Band 6 from Band 7 and above.

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.

Keep practising

More process diagrams

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