IELTS Writing Task 1: Maps and Process Diagrams 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student writes about a process: 'The mixture heated to 200°C.' What is wrong?
- The passive auxiliary verb 'is' is missing: it should be 'The mixture is heated to 200°C.' (Correct answer)
- The temperature should not be mentioned in a process description.
- The student should use active voice: 'Workers heat the mixture to 200°C.'
- Nothing is wrong; the sentence is grammatically correct.
Correct answer: The passive auxiliary verb 'is' is missing: it should be 'The mixture is heated to 200°C.'
The passive requires an auxiliary verb ('is/are + past participle'); 'The mixture heated' omits 'is' and is therefore grammatically incomplete.
Question 2: Which phrase most accurately describes a new road built between two landmarks on a map?
- A new road now connects the train station and the town hall. (Correct answer)
- A new road was connecting the train station and the town hall.
- A new road connect the train station and the town hall.
- A new road has connect the train station and the town hall.
Correct answer: A new road now connects the train station and the town hall.
Present simple ('connects') with 'now' is correct for describing the current state visible on the modern map.
Question 3: What does an overview paragraph in a Task 1 map response NOT include?
- Specific data figures or detailed descriptions of individual buildings (Correct answer)
- The most significant change visible between the two maps
- A general statement about whether the area has grown or declined
- Reference to the main feature that has changed
Correct answer: Specific data figures or detailed descriptions of individual buildings
The overview captures the big picture and main trends; specific details and data belong in the body paragraphs, not the overview.
Question 4: Choose the most appropriate vocabulary to describe land use change on a map:
- The residential area was transformed into a commercial district. (Correct answer)
- The residential area went from being a house to being a shop.
- The residential area became more commercial-like.
- The residential area is now different from before.
Correct answer: The residential area was transformed into a commercial district.
Precise, formal vocabulary ('transformed into', 'residential', 'commercial district') is rewarded under Lexical Resource; vague language lowers the score.
Question 5: The phrase 'by the time' is useful in a process description when:
- One stage must be completed before the next one can begin (Correct answer)
- Two stages happen simultaneously
- The process has no clear starting point
- You want to give your opinion on the process
Correct answer: One stage must be completed before the next one can begin
'By the time' indicates that one action is completed before another starts, which is useful for showing prerequisite steps in a process.
Question 6: A process diagram shows recycling. The correct passive sentence for 'collecting waste' is:
- First, waste is collected from households. (Correct answer)
- First, waste collects from households.
- First, households collected waste.
- First, waste was collected from households.
Correct answer: First, waste is collected from households.
A cyclic, ongoing process uses simple present passive; 'is collected' is correct, and placing 'First' at the start signals sequence.
Question 7: You need 150 words minimum for Task 1. What is the best strategy if your process description runs short?
- Add more detail about each stage using precise vocabulary and linking phrases (Correct answer)
- Repeat the same stages using different words to pad the word count
- Add a personal opinion paragraph at the end
- Copy the task instructions word for word to reach 150 words
Correct answer: Add more detail about each stage using precise vocabulary and linking phrases
Adding genuine detail — precise stage descriptions, cause-effect language, accurate vocabulary — improves both word count and the overall score.
IELTS Writing Task 1: Maps and Process Diagrams 4
A student writes about a process: 'The mixture heated to 200°C.' What is wrong?