This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of bamboo fabric from the newly released Cambridge 20 book of past tests.

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IELTS Cambridge 20 Task 1 Essay: Bamboo Fabric

The diagram below shows how fabric is manufactured from bamboo.

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

The process delineates how bamboo is fabricated into textile products. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there are three main stages in this process beginning with growing and harvesting, followed by mechanical and chemical treatment to form a usable fiber, and lastly the creation of final garments. The process is a combination of man-made and natural stages.

In the initial natural stage, bamboo plants are grown in the spring prior to being hand-harvested by autumn. Once the stalks have been collected, they are then cut into strips by a circular saw. The final mechanical step is to then crush the strips in order to fabricate liquid pulp.

The chemical processing begins with a filter that separates longer fibers from the liquid previously produced. Then water and amine oxide are added to soften the fibers, allowing them to be spun into balls of thread. The thread can then be woven into larger pieces of fabric which themselves form the basis of final clothing products for retail.

Analysis

1. The process delineates how bamboo is fabricated into textile products. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there are three main stages in this process beginning with growing and harvesting, followed by mechanical and chemical treatment to form a usable fiber, and lastly the creation of final garments. 3. The process is a combination of man-made and natural stages.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Start your overview.
3. Make your overview two sentences.

1. In the initial natural stage, bamboo plants are grown in the spring prior to being hand-harvested by autumn. 2. Once the stalks have been collected, they are then cut into strips by a circular saw. 3. The final mechanical step is to then crush the strips in order to fabricate liquid pulp.

1. You don’t need a topic sentence – just start the essay.
2. Go step by step.
3. Link your sentences well.

1. The chemical processing begins with a filter that separates longer fibers from the liquid previously produced. 2. Then water and amine oxide are added to soften the fibers, allowing them to be spun into balls of thread. 3. The thread can then be woven into larger pieces of fabric which themselves form the basis of final clothing products for retail.

1. Start a new paragraph at any point.
2. Transitions are important.
3. Finish describing the bamboo process including all steps.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The process delineates how bamboo is fabricated into textile products. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there are three main stages in this process beginning with growing and harvesting, followed by mechanical and chemical treatment to form a usable fiber, and lastly the creation of final garments. The process is a combination of man-made and natural stages.

In the initial natural stage, bamboo plants are grown in the spring prior to being hand-harvested by autumn. Once the stalks have been collected, they are then cut into strips by a circular saw. The final mechanical step is to then crush the strips in order to fabricate liquid pulp.

The chemical processing begins with a filter that separates longer fibers from the liquid previously produced. Then water and amine oxide are added to soften the fibers, allowing them to be spun into balls of thread. The thread can then be woven into larger pieces of fabric which themselves form the basis of final clothing products for retail.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

The process delineates how
Synonym: The procedure outlines the way

bamboo
Synonym: bamboo plants

fabricated into textile products
Synonym: transformed into fabric materials

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that
Synonym: From a broad view, it is clear that

main stages
Synonym: key steps

beginning with growing and harvesting
Synonym: starting with cultivation and collection

followed by mechanical and chemical treatment to form a usable fiber
Synonym: then undergoing physical and chemical processes to create usable fibers

lastly the creation of final garments
Synonym: and ending with the production of finished clothing

a combination of man-made and natural stages
Synonym: involving both artificial and organic phases

In the initial natural stage
Synonym: During the first biological step

in the spring prior to being hand-harvested by autumn
Synonym: planted in spring and manually gathered in the fall

stalks
Synonym: stems

collected
Synonym: gathered

cut into strips by a circular saw
Synonym: sliced into thin pieces using a round blade

The final mechanical step is
Synonym: The last physical stage involves

crush
Synonym: compressing

fabricate liquid pulp
Synonym: to produce a viscous pulp

The chemical processing begins with
Synonym: The next stage, chemical treatment, starts by

filter
Synonym: straining

separates longer fibers from the liquid previously produced
Synonym: isolates extended fibers from the earlier-made solution

amine oxide
Synonym: a chemical compound known as amine oxide

soften the fibers
Synonym: is used to make the fibers more pliable

spun into balls of thread
Synonym: twisted into yarn bundles

woven
Synonym: interlaced

form the basis of final clothing products for retail
Synonym: to create the foundation of garments sold in stores

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ðə ˈprəʊsɛs dɪˈlɪnieɪts haʊ
bæmˈbuː
ˈfæbrɪkeɪtɪd ˈɪntuː ˈtɛkstaɪl ˈprɒdʌkts
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt
meɪn ˈsteɪʤɪz
bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ wɪð ˈɡrəʊɪŋ ænd ˈhɑːvɪstɪŋ
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ məˈkænɪkᵊl ænd ˈkɛmɪkᵊl ˈtriːtmənt tuː fɔːm ə ˈjuːzəbᵊl faɪbə
ˈlɑːstli ðə kriˈeɪʃᵊn ɒv ˈfaɪnᵊl ˈɡɑːmənts
ə ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃᵊn ɒv ˈmænˈmeɪd ænd ˈnæʧᵊrᵊl ˈsteɪʤɪz
ɪn ði ɪˈnɪʃᵊl ˈnæʧᵊrᵊl steɪʤ
ɪn ðə sprɪŋ ˈpraɪə tuː ˈbiːɪŋ hænd-ˈhɑːvɪstɪd baɪ ˈɔːtəm
stɔːks
kəˈlɛktɪd
kʌt ˈɪntuː strɪps baɪ ə ˈsɜːkjələ sɔː
ðə ˈfaɪnᵊl məˈkænɪkᵊl stɛp ɪz
krʌʃ
ˈfæbrɪkeɪt ˈlɪkwɪd pʌlp
ðə ˈkɛmɪkᵊl ˈprəʊsɛsɪŋ bɪˈɡɪnz wɪð
ˈfɪltə
ˈsɛpᵊrəts ˈlɒŋɡə faɪbəz frɒm ðə ˈlɪkwɪd ˈpriːviəsli prəˈdjuːst
əˈmiːn ˈɒksaɪd
ˈsɒfᵊn ðə faɪbəz
spʌn ˈɪntuː bɔːlz ɒv θrɛd
ˈwəʊvᵊn
fɔːm ðə ˈbeɪsɪs ɒv ˈfaɪnᵊl ˈkləʊðɪŋ ˈprɒdʌkts fɔː ˈriːteɪl

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The process __________ how b______o is fabricated ______________ products. Looking __________________________________________ that there are three main ________s in this process beginning ______________________________ harvesting, followed _____________________________________________________________ fiber, and lastly ____________________________ garments. The process is a __________________________________________ stages.

In _______________________ stage, bamboo plants are grown in _______________________________________________ autumn. Once the s_______s have been c__________d, they are then cut _______________________________ saw. The ________________________ is to then c_______h the strips in order to fabricate ___________ pulp.

The ____________________________________ with a filter that separates ____________________________________________ produced. Then water and amine _____e are added to soften ______ fibers, allowing them to be spun ___________________ thread. The thread can then be w_______n into larger pieces of fabric which themselves form _______________________________ retail.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://jungleculture.eco/blogs/news/can-bamboo-cutlery-be-recycled?srsltid=AfmBOoocf9aniuxkevND3wy8V3s7FlUori1jrungSwVxUOZBvjBVkGft

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Describe a piece of clothing you wear often.

You should say:

What it is

What it looks like

How you got it

And say why you wear it so often

Clothing & Fashion (IELTS Speaking Part 3)

Question 1: Do you think that fashion trends are important? Why or why not?

Question 2: Do you think you can talk about someone’s personality based on their fashion choices?

Question 3: Have you ever worn an outfit that you later regretted? What was it and why did you regret it?

Question 4: What kind of clothing do you think is appropriate for occasions like job interviews or weddings?

Question 5: Do you think that people dressed more formally nowadays compared to the past?

Question 6: Do you think that people should be judged based on their clothing choices? Why or why not?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

IELTS Essay: Recycled Bottles into Clothes Process