This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of the process of making cement and then concrete from a past IELTS Cambridge book.

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IELTS Essay: Cement and Concrete Production Process

The process details the steps to make cement and then how cement is used as an ingredient in concrete manufacturing. Overall, the process requires initial mixing and chemical transformation of the raw materials clay and limestone, followed by bagging of the finished cement, before it is then combined with other materials to form concrete.

Initially, limestone and clay are collected and crushed together into a fine powder before being placed in a cylindrical mixer. The mixture is then connected to a rotating heater which transforms the powder and it is then ground a second time and sealed in bags as cement.

In order to form concrete, cement is next combined with water, sand, and gravel in a concrete mixer. The proportions for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small stones).

Analysis

1. The process details the steps to make cement and then how cement is used as an ingredient in concrete manufacturing. 2. Overall, the process requires initial mixing and chemical transformation of the raw materials clay and limestone, followed by bagging of the finished cement, before it is then combined with other materials to form concrete.

Paraphrase what the process shows.
Write a clear overview summarising the major groups. Read here about overviews for processes.

1. Initially, limestone and clay are collected and crushed together into a fine powder before being placed in a cylindrical mixer. 2. The mixture is then connected to a rotating heater which transforms the powder and it is then ground a second time and sealed in bags as cement.

Begin writing about the details of the process.
This one is tricky to get up to the word count (no longer required on IELTS) so try to make it a little wordy.

1. In order to form concrete, cement is next combined with water, sand, and gravel in a concrete mixer. 2. The proportions for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small stones).

Write about the rest of the process – include everything!
Try to paraphrase some of the words from process as well.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:

The process details the steps to make cement and then how cement is used as an ingredient in concrete manufacturing. Overall, the process requires initial mixing and chemical transformation of the raw materials clay and limestone, followed by bagging of the finished cement, before it is then combined with other materials to form concrete.

Initially, limestone and clay are collected and crushed together into a fine powder before being placed in a cylindrical mixer. The mixture is then connected to a rotating heater which transforms the powder and it is then ground a second time and sealed in bags as cement.

In order to form concrete, cement is next combined with water, sand, and gravel in a concrete mixer. The proportions for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small stones).

Answers

Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

details shows

steps stages

cement a material for construction

ingredient part of

concrete manufacturing the making of concrete

overall in general

requires needs

initial first

mixing combining

chemical transformation changing to a new substance

raw materials basic substances

followed by after that

bagging put into bags

before preceding

combined put together

form make

initially at first

crushed together broken apart and combined

fine powder light dust

placed put into

cylindrical mixer device for mixing shaped like a cylinder

mixture combination

connected joined

rotating heater device for heating that turns

ground crushed

second time another time

sealed locked into

cement building material

in order to so that

next then

concrete mixer

proportions percentages

stones little rocks

Pronunciation

Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:

ˈdiːteɪlz
stɛps
sɪˈmɛnt
ɪnˈgriːdiənt
ˈkɒnkriːt ˌmænjʊˈfækʧərɪŋ
ˈəʊvərɔːl
rɪˈkwaɪəz
ɪˈnɪʃəl
ˈmɪksɪŋ
ˈkɛmɪkəl ˌtrænsfəˈmeɪʃən
rɔː məˈtɪərɪəlz
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ
ˈbægɪŋ
bɪˈfɔː
kəmˈbaɪnd
fɔːm
ɪˈnɪʃəli
krʌʃt təˈgɛðə
faɪn ˈpaʊdə
pleɪst
sɪˈlɪndrɪkəl ˈmɪksə
ˈmɪksʧə
kəˈnɛktɪd
rəʊˈteɪtɪŋ ˈhiːtə
graʊnd
ˈsɛkənd taɪm
siːld
sɪˈmɛnt
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː
nɛkst
ˈkɒnkriːt ˈmɪksə
prəˈpɔːʃənz
stəʊnz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The process d_________s the s_____s to make c______t and then how cement is used as an i___________t in c__________________g. O_________l, the process r_______s i_______l m_______g and c_______________________n of the r____________________s clay and limestone, f_____________y b____________g of the finished cement, b_________e it is then c____________d with other materials to f_____m concrete.

I___________y, limestone and clay are collected and c________________r into a f______________r before being p________d in a c___________________r. The m________e is then c______________d to a r________________r which transforms the powder and it is then g_________d a s_______________e and s__________d in bags as c__________t.

I_____________o form concrete, cement is n____t combined with water, sand, and gravel in a c___________r. The p_______________s for each ingredient are 15% cement, 10% water, 25% sand and finally 50% gravel (which is small s________s).