Many of my students struggle with IELTS Writing Task 1, especially process diagrams. But with the right IELTS Process Diagram vocabulary, you can describe each stage clearly, boost coherence, and aim for Band 7 or higher. This blog will guide you through the exact words and strategies to use.
Understand the IELTS Process Diagram Task
Before learning the vocabulary, it’s important to understand what makes the IELTS Process Diagram task unique.
Unlike bar charts or line graphs, which involve comparing data, a process diagram shows how something works — step by step. It could be a natural process (like the water cycle) or a man-made process (like recycling or manufacturing bricks).
You’re not expected to explain how the system scientifically works — your job is to describe the sequence and actions as clearly and accurately as possible.
🔹 What Does the Examiner Want?
The examiner looks for:
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A clear overview of the process (what it’s about + how many stages)
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Accurate stage-by-stage description
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Correct use of tenses (usually present simple passive)
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A range of vocabulary to show variety and precision
💬 Tip from a recent marking session:
A student wrote, “Then it goes to the next part, and then something happens.”
This type of vague phrasing hurts your Band score. You need precise words like “is transported to the chamber,” or “undergoes filtration.”
🔹 Common Process Diagram Topics
Here are some process types you might see in IELTS:
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Natural cycles (e.g., water cycle, life cycle of a frog)
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Manufacturing (e.g., how cement or bricks are made)
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Mechanical processes (e.g., electricity generation)
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Recycling systems (e.g., waste management, plastic reuse)
Each one involves a set of inputs, actions, and outputs — often shown with arrows, symbols, and labelled equipment.
🔹 Your Job in the Exam
In just 150–170 words, you’ll need to:
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Paraphrase the question
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Give a short overview (e.g., “The diagram illustrates how coffee is produced and packaged.”)
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Describe each stage in order, using logical connectors
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Use IELTS Process Diagram vocabulary accurately — verbs, passive voice, and connectors
🧠 Key Point: The process always flows in one direction — from start to finish. Your writing should reflect that same logical flow.
Now that you understand the task, let’s build the vocabulary you’ll need to describe each stage like a Band 7+ writer.
Essential Vocabulary for Describing Process Diagrams
To describe a process diagram clearly and score Band 7 or above, you need precise, formal, and varied vocabulary. This means:
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Using specific verbs to show actions
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Using connectors to link each stage logically
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Using the passive voice to describe what happens (without saying who does it)
Let’s break these down one by one.
🔹 1. Process Verbs (Actions That Happen)
Use these verbs to describe each step in the process. These show movement, transformation, or progress.
Examples:
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begins with
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flows through
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passes through
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is collected
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enters
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produces
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undergoes
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is processed
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is stored
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separates
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is filtered
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is transported
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ends with
✅ Example sentence:
“The water flows through a series of filters before it is stored in a tank.”
🔹 2. Connectors and Sequence Words
These words help you describe the order of events. Examiners want to see that your writing flows logically.
Examples:
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First / Firstly
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Then
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After that
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Subsequently
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In the next stage
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Next
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Following this
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Finally
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At the end
✅ Example sentence:
“First, the raw materials are collected. Next, they are heated in a chamber.”
🧠 Tip: Avoid repetition. Mix short phrases like then with more advanced ones like subsequently.
🔹 3. Passive Voice for Formal Descriptions
Most IELTS process descriptions should use the passive voice, especially when the person doing the action is unknown or not important.
Common Passive Structures:
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is heated
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is collected
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are transferred
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is filtered
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are packaged
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is cooled
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is crushed
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are combined
✅ Example sentence:
“The mixture is heated to 100°C and then is transferred to a cooling chamber.”
🧠 Mini Tip: Use present simple passive for most processes:
is + past participle (e.g., is added, is processed, are transferred)
🧩 Bonus Tip: Combine All Three in a Single Sentence
Let’s look at an ideal sentence using a verb, connector, and passive voice:
“After that, the liquid is filtered through a fine mesh and then is stored in containers.”
🎯 This shows control of vocabulary, structure, and sequencing — everything examiners reward.
Now that you know which words to use, let’s look at a real student example where poor vocabulary held her back — and how she improved it using these exact tips.
Student Example – Sara’s Struggle with Process Vocabulary
Let me introduce you to Sara, a motivated IELTS student I coached last year. She was confident in grammar and had a solid understanding of IELTS Writing Task 1. But no matter how many essays she practised, she was stuck at Band 6.
Her issue? Weak vocabulary and overuse of basic words.
🔹 What Her Writing Looked Like
Here’s a real sentence from Sara’s early practice essay:
“First, they take the water. Then they do something to it. After that, it goes to the next place.”
Let’s break it down:
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“Take the water” — too casual and unclear
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“Do something” — vague and unhelpful
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“Goes to the next place” — repetitive and lacks precision
Although her grammar was mostly correct, her word choice didn’t show clarity or range, which heavily affects the Lexical Resource score.
🔹 What the Examiner Would Think
Examiners aren’t looking for complicated language — but they want to see that you can:
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Use formal vocabulary
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Describe actions and transitions clearly
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Apply passive structures when appropriate
In Sara’s case, her basic verbs and unclear connectors made it seem like she didn’t fully understand the process — even though she did.
🔹 Why This Happens to Many Learners
Sara’s situation is common. Even students with good general English skills often:
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Overuse simple verbs like do, make, go
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Forget passive voice
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Repeat the same connectors (then, then, then…)
And the result? Their score gets stuck.
But once we identified the problem, Sara was able to turn it around quickly — by applying just a few simple strategies.
👉 Let’s look at exactly what she did in the next section.
How Sara Improved – Simple Fixes That Made a Big Difference
Once Sara realised that weak vocabulary was holding her back, we worked on just three key areas:
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Action verbs specific to processes
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Passive voice usage
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Logical, varied connectors
Instead of learning long word lists, she focused only on process-specific vocabulary — the kind you saw in Section 2.
🔹 Step 1: Replace Basic Verbs
We replaced vague verbs like do, make, and go with process-specific verbs such as:
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is filtered
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enters the chamber
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undergoes cooling
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is packaged
✅ Before: “Then it does something to the material.”
✅ After: “Then the mixture is heated to 100°C.”
🔹 Step 2: Use Passive Voice Consistently
Sara learned to shift her sentence style to passive. This gave her writing a formal tone and clear structure — perfect for IELTS.
✅ Before: “They take the water and clean it.”
✅ After: “The water is collected and is filtered through fine mesh.”
💡 Reminder: For most process diagrams, use present simple passive (is/are + past participle).
🔹 Step 3: Add Variety to Connectors
Instead of saying “then” in every sentence, she started using a mix of:
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First, After that, In the next stage, Subsequently, Finally
✅ Before: “Then it goes here. Then it goes there. Then it’s done.”
✅ After: “First, the raw materials are collected. Subsequently, they are processed and filtered. Finally, the finished product is packaged.”
🧠 Sara’s Practice Plan
Here’s what we used to help her build fluency with process language:
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1 IELTS Process Diagram per day
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5 minutes rewriting weak sentences using strong process vocabulary
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Self-check checklist:
✔️ Used passive voice?
✔️ Varied connectors?
✔️ Clear verb for each stage?
In just 10 days, her practice essays looked cleaner, more structured, and far more accurate. She scored Band 7.5 in Writing on her next test.
🎯 Your Turn: Use the same steps Sara used. Focus less on writing “more,” and more on writing with clarity and control.
Ready for the final tips and your free resource?
Final Tips and Downloadable Resource
You’ve now seen how powerful the right IELTS Process Diagram vocabulary can be. It’s not about memorising difficult words — it’s about using clear, accurate language to describe what happens and in what order.
🔹 Final Tips to Boost Your Score
Here are a few final strategies that my students (and blog readers like you) have used to move from Band 6 to Band 7+:
✅ Use a process diagram template when practising
Start with:
“The diagram shows how [X] is produced / processed / recycled.”
✅ Stick to present simple passive for most processes
Unless the diagram shows future or past stages, always write in the present.
✅ Paraphrase the question + write a clear overview
e.g., “The diagram illustrates the process of manufacturing bricks.”
✅ Avoid vague or visual descriptions
Instead of “There is a pipe,” say: “The mixture is transported through a pipe.”
✅ Explore vocabulary for other IELTS visuals too
Want more vocabulary for other Task 1 types? Check out:
These will help you master all possible visuals in Writing Task 1.
🟩 FREE Download: IELTS Process Vocabulary Bank (PDF)
To help you review and practise what you’ve learned, download this printable vocabulary guide:
📥 What You’ll Get:
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25+ action verbs for process diagrams
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Passive voice phrases and sentence templates
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List of connectors and sequence words
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A short quiz for self-check and revision
👉 Download the Vocabulary PDF (Insert actual file link)
This is the same sheet I give my 1:1 students. Use it daily for writing practice!
🔗 More Helpful IELTS Resources (Official)
Want extra practice or official guidance? These trusted sites will help:
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IELTS – Official IELTS test format and free sample questions
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British Council IELTS – Free prep materials and test advice
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IDP IELTS – Book a test and access resources
💬 Final Thought
Even if you’ve never seen a process diagram before, you can master this task with the right vocabulary, sentence structure, and daily practice.
Start small: describe one stage a day using a passive sentence. Review the vocabulary bank, check your connectors, and track your fluency — just like Sara did. Progress builds from consistent, focused effort.
