IELTS Diagram and Flow Chart Strategies

IELTS Diagram and Flow Chart Strategies

Why These Questions Are Tricky

Many test-takers struggle because:

-They don’t understand how the diagram connects to the passage.

-They look for exact words instead of paraphrases or synonyms.

-They forget to check grammar and word limits.

But once you learn how IELTS designs these tasks, they become much easier to solve.

Step-by-Step Detailed Explanation

Step 1: Understand What’s Being Asked

Before you read the passage, spend 20–30 seconds studying the question.

For example:

“Complete the flow chart below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.”

This tells you:

-You can use only words from the passage.

-You can write up to two words.

-You must complete the stages of a process or steps.

So, if you write three words or paraphrase in your own words, your answer is wrong — even if the meaning is right.

IELTS Diagram and Flow Chart Strategies

 Step 2: Read the Diagram or Flow Chart Carefully

Look for:

-Titles → tells you the overall topic.
Example: “The process of recycling plastic bottles.”

-Arrows → show the direction or sequence.

-Labels → show what kind of words are missing (e.g., nouns like “machine,” “process,” or verbs like “heated,” “filtered”).

Ask yourself:

“What type of information is missing — an object, an action, or a result?”

This helps you predict what you’ll look for in the text.

Step 3: Identify Keywords and Paraphrases

For each blank, underline or note keywords nearby.

Example:

Bottles are collected → (1) ________ → crushed into flakes → (2) ________

Possible keywords: collected, crushed, flakes.

When reading the passage, look for similar ideas:

“collected” → gathered, picked up, taken in

“crushed into flakes” → broken down, shredded, ground into small pieces

IELTS always rephrases — so spotting synonyms is key.

Step 4: Locate the Right Section in the Passage

Now start scanning. Don’t read the entire text word by word.

 Instead, find the paragraph that mentions those keywords or related ideas.

If your flow chart is about “recycling plastic bottles,” you’ll find those words (or synonyms like “used plastic containers”) in one particular section.

Once you locate it, slow down and read carefully — the answers are usually close together.

IELTS Diagram and Flow Chart Strategies

Step 5: Read in Sequence

In flow charts and diagrams, answers follow the same order as the passage.

So if blank (1) is in paragraph 2, blank (2) will most likely appear in paragraph 3 — not before it.

This saves time because you don’t need to search the whole passage again.

Step 6: Write the Answer Exactly

-Copy the words exactly as they appear in the passage.

-Don’t change the form unless grammar requires it.
Example: Passage says “The pulp is dried” → The blank says “The pulp is ____” → Answer = dried (not “drying”).

Follow the word limit:
If it says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS,” writing “boiled with chemicals” (3 words) will be marked wrong — even if correct in meaning.

Step 7: Check Grammar & Meaning

Always check if the answer fits grammatically.

Example:

The water is ______ before entering the tank.
If the passage says, “The water is filtered before being stored,”
Then the correct answer is filtered, not “filter” or “is filtered.”

Correct grammar makes your answer logical and readable.

IELTS Diagram and Flow Chart Strategies

Example with Full Explanation

Flow Chart:

Process of Making Orange Juice
Oranges → (1) ______ → Juice Extracted → (2) ______ → Bottled

Passage:

First, the oranges are washed thoroughly to remove any dirt. They are then cut and squeezed to extract the juice. Next, the juice is pasteurized to kill bacteria before being poured into bottles for packaging.

Step-by-step:

(1) Before extraction → “washed thoroughly” → ✔ washed thoroughly

(2) After extraction → “pasteurized” → ✔ pasteurized

So the answers are:
(1) washed thoroughly
(2) pasteurized

IELTS Diagram and Flow Chart Strategies

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Bonus Tip

Try to visualize the process — imagine the steps happening in your mind.
This helps you remember the sequence and understand the logic of the diagram.

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IELTS Diagram and Flow Chart Strategies