This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of the process of how to make olive oil.

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IELTS Essay Task 1: Olive Oil

The diagram details the process of producing olive oil.

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

The diagram delineates the process by which olive oil is made. The production can be divided into 3 main groups beginning with initial harvesting and treatment, followed by creation of the oil, and lastly storage for future use.

The process begins with the olives being harvested from trees and placed in a collection vat. The olives must then be de-leafed and cleaned with water before they are put into an olive mill to crush them into olive paste. The paste is then put through a malaxer set to a temperature not greater than 27 °C. After the malaxer, paste then enters a centrifugal press which creates virgin oils.

Subsequent to this, the virgin oils are then either separated (with waste water being discharged) or decanted, which filters out both solids and water. Regardless of the method of separation, both products are reserved in a storage tank to finish the steps detailed in the diagram.

Analysis

1. The diagram delineates the process by which olive oil is made. 2. The production can be divided into 3 main groups beginning with initial harvesting and treatment, followed by creation of the oil, and lastly storage for future use.

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

1. The process begins with the olives being harvested from trees and placed in a collection vat. 2. The olives must then be de-leafed and cleaned with water before they are put into an olive mill to crush them into olive paste. 3. The paste is then put through a malaxer set to a temperature not greater than 27 °C. 4. After the malaxer, paste then enters a centrifugal press which creates virgin oils.

1. Begin writing about the details of the process.
2. This one is tricky to get up to the word count (no longer required on IELTS) so try to make it a little wordy.
3. Include every step in the process.
4. Make sure you use good linking words.

1. Subsequent to this, the virgin oils are then either separated (with waste water being discharged) or decanted, which filters out both solids and water. 2. Regardless of the method of separation, both products are reserved in a storage tank to finish the steps detailed in the diagram.

1. Write about the rest of the process – include everything!
2. 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 diagram delineates the process by which olive oil is made. The production can be divided into 3 main groups beginning with initial harvesting and treatment, followed by creation of the oil, and lastly storage for future use.

The process begins with the olives being harvested from trees and placed in a collection vat. The olives must then be de-leafed and cleaned with water before they are put into an olive mill to crush them into olive paste. The paste is then put through a malaxer set to a temperature not greater than 27 °C. After the malaxer, paste then enters a centrifugal press which creates virgin oils.

Subsequent to this, the virgin oils are then either separated (with waste water being discharged) or decanted, which filters out both solids and water. Regardless of the method of separation, both byproducts are reserved in a storage tank to finish the steps detailed in the diagram.

Answers

Try practicing with the vocabulary below by writing an antonym/opposite word on a piece of paper (or just thinking of one):

delineates shows

process by which way in which

olive oil used for cooking and salads

production making of something

divided into separated into

main groups big areas

beginning with starting with

initial harvesting first picking

treatment how something is processed

followed by after that

creation making of something

lastly storage for future use finally kept somewhere to use later

harvested picked

placed in put in

collection vat place to store things

de-leafed leaves taken off

olive mill place to grind olives

crush smushed

olive paste a gel kind of substance made from olives

put through a placed in

set to greater than made more than

centrifugal press place to push together

separated cut away from

waste water water byproduct

discharged sent out

decanted poured out

filters out separated from

solids not liquids

Regardless of no matter

products what is made

reserved stored

storage tank place to keep something

finish ends

steps detailed stages showed

diagram picture

Pronunciation

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

dɪˈlɪnɪeɪts 
ˈprəʊsɛs baɪ wɪʧ 
ˈɒlɪv ɔɪl 
prəˈdʌkʃən 
dɪˈvaɪdɪd ˈɪntuː 
meɪn gruːps 
bɪˈgɪnɪŋ wɪð 
ɪˈnɪʃəl ˈhɑːvɪstɪŋ 
ˈtriːtmənt
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ 
kri(ː)ˈeɪʃən 
ˈlɑːstli ˈstɔːrɪʤ fɔː ˈfjuːʧə juːz
ˈhɑːvɪstɪd 
pleɪst ɪn 
kəˈlɛkʃən væt
diː-liːft 
ˈɒlɪv mɪl 
krʌʃ 
ˈɒlɪv peɪst
pʊt θruː eɪ 
sɛt tuː ˈgreɪtə ðæn 
sɛnˈtrɪfjʊgəl prɛs 
ˈsɛpəreɪtɪd 
weɪst ˈwɔːtə 
dɪsˈʧɑːʤd 
dɪˈkæntɪd 
ˈfɪltəz aʊt 
ˈsɒlɪdz 
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs ɒv 
ˈbaɪˌprɒdʌkts 
rɪˈzɜːvd 
ˈstɔːrɪʤ tæŋk 
ˈfɪnɪʃ 
stɛps ˈdiːteɪld 
ˈdaɪəgræm

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The diagram d__________s the p________________h o________l is made. The p________n can be d_________o 3 m_________s b___________h i____________g and t________t, f_____________y c______n of the oil, and l_________________________e.

The process begins with the olives being h________d from trees and p__________n a c______________t. The olives must then be d___________d and cleaned with water before they are put into an o__________l to c______h them into o_________e. The paste is then p__________h a malaxer s______________n 27 °C. After the malaxer, paste then enters a c______________s which creates virgin oils.

Subsequent to this, the virgin oils are then either s________d (with w___________r being d_________d) or d________d, which f_____________t both s_______s and water. R____________f the method of separation, both p__________s are r________d in a s_________________k to f_______h the s_____________d in the d________m.

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.healthline.com/nutrition/extra-virgin-olive-oil

Speaking Practice

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

Favorite Foods

1. What are your favorite foods?
2. What were your favorite foods as a child?
3. What foods are becoming more popular in your country now?
4. What foods do you not like?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related process below and then check with my sample answer: