How to describe a process from a flowchart in one paragraph
A flowchart turns into good prose when sequencing words do the work of the arrows: first, once, at this point, if, otherwise, finally. The hard part is the branches, where the process splits and each path goes somewhere different. This guide shows how to keep every stage in order and every branch clear in 90–140 words.
The task
The briefA flowchart shows how a support ticket is handled: the customer submits a ticket; it is auto-classified as billing or technical; billing tickets go to the finance queue; technical tickets are triaged as urgent or normal; urgent tickets page an on-call engineer, normal ones enter the daily queue; every resolved ticket triggers a satisfaction survey. Write ONE paragraph describing the process.
Points to coverDescribe the stages in the correct order
Include both branch points
Cover what happens at the end of the process
Use sequencing language rather than a bulleted list
Length
90–140 words
Suggested time
15 minutes
Level
Easy
Planning tip: Sequence markers do the work here: first, then, at this point, if, finally. Describe the stages; do not evaluate the process.
What a strong answer does
It opens with an overview: what the process is, where it starts and ends, and how many decision points it has.
The stages are described in the correct order, with none skipped.
Every branch point is covered, and each path is followed to wherever it leads.
The ending is included: the step that applies to every case once the paths come back together.
Sequencing and conditional language replaces the arrows: ‘once…’, ‘at this stage…’, ‘if… otherwise…’, ‘whichever path it takes…’.
It describes and does not evaluate. Whether the process is efficient is an opinion the task does not ask for.
The passive is used where the actor does not matter, which is normal and correct in process descriptions.
How to structure it
- 1
Overview
20–30 wordsWhat the process does, where it starts and ends, and the number of decision points.
- 2
The stages up to the first branch
15–25 wordsThe opening steps, in order.
- 3
The first branch
20–30 wordsWhere the process splits, and where each path goes.
- 4
The second branch
20–30 wordsThe next decision point and both of its outcomes.
- 5
The common ending
15–20 wordsWhat happens at the end, whichever path was taken.
Useful phrases
Frames, not finished sentences: put your own details where the [brackets] are, and use only the ones that fit what you are saying.
Overview
- The process has [number] main stages and [number] decision points, beginning with [stage] and ending with [stage].
Sequencing
- First, … · Once [step] is complete, … · At this stage, … · Finally, …
- Whichever route an application takes, it then moves on to [stage].
Branches
- If [condition], [path]; otherwise, [other path].
- At this point, applications are split into [A] and [B].
- [A] move straight to [stage], while [B] are [action] first.
The passive in processes
- Each application is checked automatically.
- The form is then passed to [team].
The common ending
- In every case, the process ends with [step].
- Once [event] happens, [final step] follows automatically.
Common mistakes, and how to fix them
Turning the paragraph into a list.
The brief asks for sequencing language, not bullets or ‘Step 1, Step 2’. A list loses organisation marks here.
Fix: Join the steps with sequencing words, in full sentences.
Losing a branch.
Following one path to the end and forgetting what happens on the other misses a required point.
Fix: Before you write, count the decision points and the ends of every path, and tick them off as you go.
Skipping the ending.
The final step that applies to every case is easy to forget once the branches are done.
Fix: Finish with what happens in all cases.
Evaluating the process.
A sentence such as ‘this is an efficient system’ or ‘some cases should move faster’ is opinion; the task is description.
Fix: Delete any sentence that judges the process.
Broken passives: ‘the form is check’, ‘it is send to the team’.
Learners whose first language has no equivalent form, including speakers of Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai, often drop the past participle. The passive needs ‘is’ or ‘are’ plus the participle.
Fix: Write ‘is checked’, ‘is sent’, ‘are reviewed’.
‘Then… then… then…’.
It is accurate but monotonous, and both organisation and vocabulary are scored.
Fix: Vary it: ‘once’, ‘after this’, ‘at this stage’, ‘following this’, ‘finally’.
Before you submit: a self-check
Does your first sentence give an overview of the whole process?
Are all the stages in the correct order?
Have you covered every branch point and followed each path to its end?
Have you described what happens at the end in every case?
Have you used sequencing language instead of a list?
Is it one paragraph of 90–140 words, with no evaluation?
Questions people ask
How do you describe a process in English?
Start with an overview (what the process is and how many stages it has), then go through the stages in order with sequencing words such as first, once, at this stage and finally, using the passive where the actor does not matter. For branches, use ‘if… otherwise’ or ‘while’.
Should I use the passive voice in a process description?
Often, yes. In a process the action matters more than who performs it, so ‘each form is checked’ is more natural than ‘someone checks each form’. Mix active and passive for variety, and keep the passive forms correct.
How do I describe a decision point in a flowchart?
Name the condition and both outcomes in one sentence. For a job application process, for instance: if the applicant passes the test, they are invited to an interview; otherwise, they receive a rejection email. Then continue each path, or bring them back together.
Is this like the IELTS Academic Task 1 process diagram?
Yes. Process diagrams appear in Task 1, and the same tools (an overview, sequencing words and the passive) are what examiners look for.
Describe a process from a flowchart
90–140 words · 15 minutes · Easy. Free to start; you need a TalkDrill account to submit, not to read this guide.
Scored by AI on TalkDrill on
- Task response25%
- Organisation20%
- Grammar20%
- Vocabulary15%
- Mechanics (spelling and punctuation)10%
- Tone10%
