WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
• This type of question will give you a diagram with a series of pictures. The diagram shows
the stages of how something is made or how something works.
• Typical diagrams: how chocolate is made, how coffee is grown and produced, the life-cycle
of an animal or insect (e.g. a butterfly)
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
1. Getting started
Answer the following questions:
• What would you write in the introduction?
=> A paraphrasing of the prompt
• What information would you include in the overview?
=> Most signigicant/outstanding features, usually the number of
steps, the starting/ending steps, or the listing of the main phrases (<5)
• Which tense(s) will you use in the body paragraphs?
=> Mostly Present Simple, sometimes Present Perfect
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
2. Verbs and Tenses
• Natural processes: Mostly active verbs
• Artificial processes: Mostly passive
2. Sown
a. Complete this table of common irregular past participles.
3. Sold
4. Taken
5. Wrapped
6. Held
7. Ground
8. Put
9. Cut
10. Woven
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
2. Verbs and Tenses
b. Complete these sentences with the passive form of the verb in brackets.
2. Are ground
3. Is put
4. Are cut
5. Are wrapped
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
2. Verbs and Tenses
c. Use the correct form the verbs in the box to complete the paragraph below about the first half of the
process in Exercise 1.
2. Are sown
3. Shines
4. Grow
5. Are picked
6. (are) put
7. Are put
8. Are packed
9. Are loaded
10. (are) delivered
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
3. Linking devices
a. Write these linking words and phrases in the correct column of the table below according to their meaning.
Subsequently First of all Finally
After that The first step is that The last step is
At this point To begin with
The next step is that Initially
Following this
The following step is that
And then
After which
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
3. Linking devices
b. Put these steps in the process of making a cup of tea in order.
b, e, h, g, a, d, c, f
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
3. Linking devices
c. Rewrite these sentenes using the words in brackets.
1. Once the tea leaves have been picked, they are then put in the sun to dry.
2. After the tea leaves have been picked from the tea plants, they are (then)
packed into boxes.
3. When the boxes have been loaded onto a lorry, they are then taken to
supermarkets.
4. Once you have put the tea bag in the cup, you can then pour hot water into it.
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
3. Linking devices
d. Rewrite the sentences in Exercise c using after + V-ing.
1. After being picked, the tea leaes are then put in the sun to dry.
2. After being picked from the tea plants, the tea leaves are then packed
into boxes.
3. After being loaded onto a lorry, the boxes are then taken to
supermarkets.
4. After putting the tea bag in the cup, you can then pour hot water into it.
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
4. Giving extra information about the stage
a. Match the stages (1-4) to the corresponding extra details (a-d).
1. B
2. D
3. A
4. C
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
4. Giving extra information about the stage
b. Join each pair of sentences using the words in brackets.
2. The biscuits are put in the oven in order to be cooked.
3. The farmer waters the plants, which makes them grow more quickly.
4. The mushrooms are stored in a dark room, so that they stay fresh.
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
5. Writing an introduction and overview
a. Write an introductory sentence for these Task 1 questions.
1. The diagram highlights how potato chips are produced.
2. The pictures show the steps involved in getting a driving license.
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
5. Writing an introduction and overview
b. Complete the mini-overview below for the tea-making process using the words in the box.
1. Steps
2. From
3. Planting
4. To
5. Drinking
WRITING TASK 1 – PROCESSES
6. Model answer
1. Circle all the linking words in paragraphs 2 and 3.
=> and then; are then; after; and then; first of all; Next; then; at this point; the final step is
2.. Underline the examples of joining ideas with once/when + present perfect.
=> Once the plants have grown...; once the kettle has boiled…
3. Find examples of extra detail about a stage.
=> To be dried; which take the boxes of tea to supermarkets
4. Highlight an example of joining two stages with Having + past participle.
=> Having been left in the cup…
5. Find a linking word which means at the same time.
=> meanwhile
