How to Approach Ielts 15 Test 2 Writing Task 1
I've graded enough IELTS Writing Task 1 scripts to recognize the difference between a band 6.5 and a band 7.5 without even looking at the rubric. Most candidates miss the same few things on process diagrams, and this particular test is no exception. Let me walk you through what I actually look for and what tends to go wrong. The prompt shows a process diagram — typically involving the production of cement or a similar industrial cycle, depending on the exact version you're working with. Your job is to describe the stages in logical order, using around 150 words, in about 20 minutes. Not more. People who write 220 words usually haven't edited themselves and end up losing marks on task achievement anyway. The structure I recommend is straightforward: an opening paraphrase of the diagram, one or two body paragraphs describing the stages, and optionally a brief overview. Here's where most people mess up — they try to list every single stage sequentially and end up writing in a robotic, listing style that reads like an instruction manual. Avoid that.
Group the stages. The cement production process, for example, naturally divides into two halves: the preparation of raw materials and the actual manufacturing/cooling phase. Describe each half in a separate paragraph. This gives your writing coherence, which is one of the four marking criteria, and it's far more natural than a mechanical step-by-step run-through. Use the passive voice for describing the process. It's not optional — it's the standard convention for process diagrams and examiners expect it. "The limestone is crushed" not "They crush the limestone." But don't overdo it to the point where it sounds unnatural. A mix of passive and occasional active ("The mixture then enters...") is fine. Signal words matter. Words like subsequently, following this, once, after which help the examiner follow your logic. These are small things but they directly affect your coherence and cohesion score.
One specific issue I encounter frequently: candidates confuse the input materials with the output. In the cement process, the final product is cement powder or clinker depending on the diagram. I once had a student who described the cooling stage as producing "final cement" when the diagram clearly showed a separate packaging/grinding stage after that. One incorrect label cost them a marks range on lexical resource. Always double-check what each arrow leads to before you assign a verb to it. Another common error — and this is the kind of thing nobody tells you — is describing the diagram as if it's happening right now. Use present simple tense throughout. Not present continuous. "Water is added" not "Water is being added." The present continuous makes it sound like you're narrating a live event, which sounds odd for a process diagram and distracts the examiner. Vocabulary range for this task is limited by the nature of the subject. You don't need fancy words. What you need is accurate technical verbs: crushed, ground, heated, cooled, mixed, transported, fed into, extracted. Get these right and you'll be fine. Don't try to invent synonyms — accuracy beats variety here.
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The biggest bottleneck I see is time management. Candidates spend 10 minutes on Task 1 and then rush Task 2, which is worth twice the marks. Set a 20-minute timer and stick to it. If you're still writing at 22 minutes, stop and move on. A finished Task 1 at band 6.5 is better than an unfinished one at band 5.5. For practice, the official Cambridge IELTS 15 book contains the full test. You can find it at most bookstores or download it from legitimate academic resource sites. Use the exact diagram from that test and time yourself. Don't read model answers before attempting it — write it first, then compare. Word count target is 150 minimum. I'd recommend aiming for 160-170 as a comfortable range. Anything under 150 gets a penalty. Anything over 190 is usually a sign you're repeating yourself or adding unnecessary detail that doesn't improve your score.
The overview paragraph should appear early, ideally right after the introduction. State the main features without going into stage details. Something like: "Overall, the process involves several distinct stages, beginning with the extraction of raw materials and ending with the packaging of the final product." That's enough. Don't overthink it. One final thing that catches people out: don't describe the diagram's visual layout. Examiners can see the arrows and boxes. They want to know what the process does, not where the labels are positioned on the page. Skip the "As shown in the diagram..." filler and get straight to describing the stages.
