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Guide

How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For the Teacher

Use this 40-minute lesson step-by-step to build process-description vocabulary before learners begin Task 1 writing.

Check answer keys together after completing Module 1 so learners feel confident with sentence structures.

🧑‍🎓 For the Learner

Complete the four warm-up steps in Module 1 first to practice key words and sentence patterns.

Next, apply these patterns in Module 2 when writing your report, then compare your work with Module 3.

Module 1 • Build-Up

Building Warm-Up: Making a Cup of Tea

Practice the words, phrases, and sentence patterns you need to describe a simple process step by step.

Part A: Word Forms

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the word shown in brackets.

1. Leave the teabag in the hot water so that ____ takes place properly. (steep)

2. The amount of milk you add should be ____ to the size of your cup. (proportion)

3. The teabag structure allows quick ____ of the hot water into the tea leaves. (absorb)

4. Pouring boiling water directly over the bag ensures it is ____ soaked. (thorough)

5. Follow the steps in a ____ order for the best result. (sequence)

Part B: Collocations

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. First, __________ the kettle with fresh water and bring it to a boil.

____ a. fill ____ b. place ____ c. reach ____ d. touch

2. The brewing stage should __________ for approximately three minutes.

____ a. arrive ____ b. last ____ c. hold ____ d. stay

3. Gently __________ the teabag against the side of the cup before removing it.

____ a. press ____ b. attach ____ c. contact ____ d. join

4. After boiling, __________ the water directly over the teabag.

____ a. pour ____ b. splash ____ c. drop ____ d. throw

5. The water temperature should __________ 100 degrees Celsius before pouring.

____ a. touch ____ b. reach ____ c. arrive ____ d. catch

Part C: Common Phrases

Complete each sentence using the correct phrase from the bank below.

Word Bank

a total of followed by in comparison with step in the process prior to

1. The initial ____ is filling the kettle with cold water.

2. Boiling the water is necessary ____ placing the teabag into the cup.

3. First, pour the hot water, ____ a small splash of milk.

4. Preparing a standard mug requires ____ 250 millilitres of hot water.

5. Using loose tea leaves takes more preparation time ____ using a standard teabag.

Part D: Paraphrase

Choose the sentence that says the exact same thing using different words.

Original sentence:

"Before adding milk, allow the teabag to steep in boiling water for three minutes."

____ a. Add milk first, then let the teabag stay in boiling water for three minutes. ____ b. Let the teabag soak in hot water for three minutes prior to pouring in the milk. ____ c. Steep the teabag for three minutes after you have already mixed in the milk.

Original sentence:

"Removing the teabag too quickly results in a weak cup of tea."

____ a. If you take the teabag out too soon, the tea will not be strong enough. ____ b. Taking out the teabag quickly makes the tea taste much stronger. ____ c. A weak cup of tea is created when you leave the teabag in for a long time.

Original sentence:

"Stirring the tea thoroughly helps distribute the flavour evenly throughout the cup."

____ a. Flavours become uneven if you stir the tea carefully after brewing. ____ b. Stirring the liquid well ensures that the taste spreads evenly across the mug. ____ c. You should stir the tea only when the flavour has already spread completely.

Module 2 • The Task

Main Task: Writing Your Report

Read the prompt, examine the table carefully, and write your report in the space provided.

Writing Task 1 Prompt

"The table shows the main reason why customers visited pharmacies in one town in 2005, 2015 and 2025, in percentages."

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

Write at least 150 words.

Main reason for the visit	2005	2015	2025
Prescription medicine	48%	42%	30%
Over-the-counter medicine	32%	30%	24%
Health advice	8%	14%	28%
Beauty and skin care	12%	14%	18%

(Figures are fictional.)

✅

What your report needs

A clear overview
Key features reported
Relevant comparisons
Accurate figures
At least 150 words

Your Response

Task Achievement Coherence and Cohesion Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Type your full report below. When you submit, your writing will be assessed automatically across all four IELTS criteria.

____ (Write your report here (at least 150 words)...)

Module 3 • Model Answer & Analysis

Model Answer & Useful Phrases

Study this high-scoring 159-word model report and read the plain notes to see why these specific phrases work so well.

Model Answer

159 Words

The table details the proportions of customer visits to pharmacies for four different reasons in one town in 2005, 2015, and 2025.

Overall, it is clear that medical purchases declined over the period, whereas seeking advice and buying cosmetics experienced notable growth. Despite this downward trend, obtaining prescription medicine remained the primary reason for visits throughout the two decades.

In terms of medical purchases, prescription drugs accounted for the largest share in 2005 at 48%, but this figure steadily fell to 42% in 2015 and 30% by 2025. Similarly, over-the-counter medicine visits decreased gradually from 32% to 30% in 2015, before dropping further to 24% in the final year.

In sharp contrast, seeking health advice saw the most dramatic increase, rising from 8% in 2005 to 14% in 2015, before doubling to 28% by 2025. Finally, the percentage of customers buying beauty and skin care products grew moderately from 12% to 14% in 2015, eventually reaching 18% in 2025.

Phrase Breakdown: Why This Works

Learn how each bold phrase builds strong report structure and data accuracy.

Phrase 1

"Overall, it is clear that"

Why this works

Gives a smooth, natural start to your summary paragraph so the examiner immediately sees your main overview.

Phrase 2

"Despite this downward trend"

Why this works

Connects two contrasting facts in one fluent sentence while summarizing the general direction of the numbers.

Phrase 3

"In terms of medical purchases"

Why this works

Sets up a clear topic transition so the reader knows which group of data you are discussing next.

Phrase 4

"accounted for the largest share"

Why this works

Highlights the highest figure without repeating simple words like "was the biggest number".

Phrase 5

"before dropping further to"

Why this works

Links two consecutive decreases together into one smooth sentence instead of writing two short, repetitive lines.

Phrase 6

"In sharp contrast"

Why this works

Signals a clear shift from falling trends to rising trends, making your comparison clear and striking.

Phrase 7

"doubling"

Why this works

Uses one exact word for a clear change: 28% is exactly twice 14%.

IELTS Writing Task 1: Pharmacies and Medicines

How to use this lesson

Building Warm-Up: Making a Cup of Tea

Part A: Word Forms

Part B: Collocations

Part C: Common Phrases

Part D: Paraphrase

Main Task: Writing Your Report

What your report needs

Your Response

Model Answer & Useful Phrases

Model Answer

Phrase Breakdown: Why This Works

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