Band 7–9 Flow Chart Training

IELTS Writing Task 1 Flow Charts Process Diagram Guide, Samples & PDF

Master IELTS Writing Task 1 flow chart and process diagram questions with this complete guide. Learn the key task requirements, high-band vocabulary, model answers and practical tips – then practise online with instant feedback.

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About IELTS Writing Task 1 Flow Charts

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you are sometimes given a flow chart or process diagram instead of a graph or table. The question usually asks you to summarise the information and describe the main stages of a process.

A flow chart tests whether you can describe stages in a logical order, explain how something works, use process language (e.g. is heated, passes through), and summarise the overall purpose.

Assessment Criteria

Task Achievement:Summarise main features & provide an overview.
Coherence:Organise logically (Intro, Overview, Body).
Lexical:Use precise trend & process vocabulary.
Grammar:Accurate complex sentences & punctuation.

Timing & Rules

  • Recommended time: 20 minutes
  • Minimum length: 150 words
  • Common instruction: "Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features."

Useful Vocabulary & Patterns

To score Band 7+, avoid repeating simple verbs. Use a variety of precise process verbs, sequencing words, and nouns.

Process Verbs

Describing: show, illustrate, depict, outline

Movement: pass through, enter, circulate, be channelled

Function: serves to, enables, is used to

Sequencing

Start: first, firstly, in the first stage

Middle: then, next, subsequently, following this

End: finally, ultimately, in the final step

Common Nouns

Parts: chamber, section, trench, passage, pipe

Objects: container, lid, device, unit

Elements: heat, smoke, air, fuel, combustion

Pattern TypeExample Sentence
Passive VoiceFresh air is drawn into the trench; logs are burned to create heat.
Cause & ResultLogs are burned; as a result, hot smoke is produced.
Overall PurposeOverall, the system uses a wood fire to produce smoke for preserving food.
Linking StagesAfter passing over the fire, the smoke moves through a pipe.

Band 9 Flow Chart Sample Answer

Flow Chart Question

The diagram below describes the structure of a home smokery and how it works.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Home Smokery Diagram - showing underground sections and above ground box structure

Planning Notes

  • Overall purpose: A device for smoking food at home.
  • Structure: Underground inlet/trench, central fire pit, covered passage, above-ground box.
  • Process: Air enters → Logs burn → Smoke travels → Food preserved.
Band 9 Sample

The diagram illustrates a simple home smokery used to preserve food such as fish or meat. Overall, the system relies on a small wood fire built below ground level to generate smoke, which is then channelled into a box above ground where the food is exposed to it.

In the first stage, fresh air enters an underground trench on the left-hand side. This shallow compartment is covered by a lid and leads to a second, slightly deeper section in the centre. Here, logs are placed and burned, producing heat and smoke. The trench layout ensures that air is drawn steadily through the system towards the fire, allowing the combustion to continue.

From this central fire pit, the smoke flows along a covered passage towards the final chamber. A pipe carries it up into a box positioned at ground level, inside which pieces of food are hung from the roof. Once the smoke reaches this box, it circulates around the food before escaping, gradually flavouring and preserving the contents.

In summary, the home smokery is a straightforward yet effective device that uses natural airflow and an underground fire to direct smoke into a container, where it can be used to smoke food safely and efficiently.

Word count: ~185 wordsExaminer Comments Available

Writing Tips for Flow Chart Essays

1. Task Response

Always include an overview explaining the purpose. Do not give opinions or reasons unless shown.

2. Coherence & Cohesion

Group information logically. Use sequencing phrases (first, next, finally) and follow the arrow direction.

3. Language Use

Use present simple for processes. Use passive voice when the actor is unknown (e.g. "is heated").

Practise Flow Chart Task 1 with Lingoleap

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