This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of the process of making smoked fish.
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IELTS Essay Task 1: Smoked Fish Process
The diagram details the process of making smoked fish.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The process details the steps by which smoked fish is produced. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that smoking fish can be divided into 3 main stages beginning with catching and transportation, followed by storage and processing, and finally further storage and transportation to fish shops for retail.
The process commences when fish are caught in nets and then transported by boat to a port. From this point, they are frozen and then later undergo a thawing process in fresh water. The next stage is to slice open the fish and put them in a salt water solution that also contains some amount of yellow coloring. Following this, the actual smoking takes place.
After smoking, the fish are packaged in boxes and frozen at zero degrees centigrade in larger containers. They are finally grouped into cold storage bins and distributed by truck to shops to sell to consumers.
Analysis
1. The process details the steps by which smoked fish is produced. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that smoking fish can be divided into 3 main stages beginning with catching and transportation, followed by storage and processing, and finally further storage and transportation to fish shops for retail.
- Paraphrase what the process shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the major groups. Read here about overviews for processes.
1. The process commences when fish are caught in nets and then transported by boat to a port. 2. From this point, they are frozen and then later undergo a thawing process in fresh water. 3. The next stage is to slice open the fish and put them in a salt water solution that also contains some amount of yellow coloring. 4. Following this, the actual smoking takes place.
- 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.
- Include every step in the process.
- Vary short and long sentences.
1. After smoking, the fish are packaged in boxes and frozen at zero degrees centigrade in larger containers. 2. They are finally grouped into cold storage bins and distributed by truck to shops to sell to consumers.
- 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 by which smoked fish is produced. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that smoking fish can be divided into 3 main stages beginning with catching and transportation, followed by storage and processing, and finally further storage and transportation to fish shops for retail.
The process commences when fish are caught in nets and then transported by boat to a port. From this point, they are frozen and then later undergo a thawing process in fresh water. The next stage is to slice open the fish and put them in a salt water solution that also contains some amount of yellow coloring. Following this, the actual smoking takes place.
After smoking, the fish are packaged in boxes and frozen at zero degrees centigrade in larger containers. They are finally grouped into cold storage bins and distributed by truck to shops to sell to consumers.
Answers
Try practicing with the vocabulary below by writing an antonym/opposite word on a piece of paper (or just thinking of one):
The process details the steps by which smoked fish produced the diagram shows the ways fish is made into smoked fish
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall
can be divided into 3 main stages can be grouped into 3 big groups
beginning with catching and transportation starting with finding and taking to
followed by storage and processing after that keeping and making
finally further storage lastly keeping again
transportation sending to a place
fish shops places where fish are sold
retail for sale in shops
process commences diagram starts
caught in nets fishermen catch them
transported by boat to a port sent by ships to the docks where ships are
From this point starting here
frozen turned to ice
then later undergo a thawing process in fresh water after that the ice melts in water without salt
The next stage is to slice open the fish the fish are then cut open
put them in a salt water solution place in water with salt
contains some amount of yellow coloring has some yellow chemical in it
Following this after this
actual smoking takes place the real cooking happens
After next
packaged in boxes and frozen at zero degrees centigrade in larger containers put in containers at 0C and then bigger ones
finally grouped into cold storage bins lastly put into boxes that are very cold
distributed by truck sent by vehicles
consumers people who buy things
Pronunciation
Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:
ðə ˈprəʊsɛs ˈdiːteɪlz ðə stɛps baɪ wɪʧ sməʊkt fɪʃ prəˈdjuːst
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
kæn biː dɪˈvaɪdɪd ˈɪntuː 3 meɪn ˈsteɪʤɪz
bɪˈgɪnɪŋ wɪð ˈkæʧɪŋ ænd ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ ˈstɔːrɪʤ ænd ˈprəʊsɛsɪŋ
ˈfaɪnəli ˈfɜːðə ˈstɔːrɪʤ
ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən
fɪʃ ʃɒps
ˈriːteɪl
ˈprəʊsɛs kəˈmɛnsɪz
kɔːt ɪn nɛts
trænsˈpɔːtɪd baɪ bəʊt tuː ə pɔːt
frɒm ðɪs pɔɪnt
ˈfrəʊzn
ðɛn ˈleɪtər ˌʌndəˈgəʊ ə ˈθɔːɪŋ ˈprəʊsɛs ɪn frɛʃ ˈwɔːtə
ðə nɛkst steɪʤ ɪz tuː slaɪs ˈəʊpən ðə fɪʃ
pʊt ðɛm ɪn ə sɒlt ˈwɔːtə səˈluːʃən
kənˈteɪnz sʌm əˈmaʊnt ɒv ˈjɛləʊ ˈkʌlərɪŋ
ˈfɒləʊɪŋ ðɪs
ˈækʧʊəl ˈsməʊkɪŋ teɪks pleɪs
ˈɑːftə
ˈpækɪʤd ɪn ˈbɒksɪz ænd ˈfrəʊzn æt ˈzɪərəʊ dɪˈgriːz ˈsɛntɪgreɪd ɪn ˈlɑːʤə kənˈteɪnəz
ˈfaɪnəli gruːpt ˈɪntuː kəʊld ˈstɔːrɪʤ bɪnz
dɪsˈtrɪbju(ː)tɪd baɪ trʌk
kənˈsjuːməz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
T___________________________________________________________h is p_________d. L_________________________________________________________________t smoking fish c_______________________________________s b___________________________________n, f_______________________________________g, and f__________________________e and t__________________n to f_____________s for r_____l.
The p_____________________s when fish are c________________s and then t_____________________t. F______________t, they are f____n and t_______________________________________________r. T_______________________________h and p______________________________n that also c______________________________________g. F___________________s, the a____________________________e.
A______r smoking, the fish are p_________________________________________________________________s. They are f______________________________________________s and d______________________k to shops to sell to c___________s.
Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.thespruceeats.com/guide-to-smoking-fish-331552
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Outdoors
- Did you like to go outdoors when you were younger?
- Do you still go outdoors a lot now?
- Do you like reading outside?
- Where do people in your country like to go outside?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related process below and then check with my sample answer:

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You are perfect