IELTS Academic Writing · Practice test
Olive oil: IELTS Academic Writing practice test
A process diagram of how olive oil is made, then a two-part essay on eating out instead of cooking.
- Academic
- Task 1 · Task 2
- 60 minutes
Writing Task 1 · 20 minutes · 150 words
Process diagram: Food
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram below shows how olive oil is produced.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The solid pomace left after separation is used as animal feed or fuel.
Process diagram: The production of olive oil (8 stages) 1. Harvesting — Olives are picked by hand or shaken from the trees by machine, October to December 2. Cleaning — Leaves and twigs are removed and the olives are washed 3. Crushing — Whole olives, including the stones, are ground into a paste 4. Malaxing — The paste is stirred slowly for 20–40 minutes so that small drops of oil combine 5. Separating — A centrifuge separates the oil from the water and the solid pomace 6. Filtering — The oil is filtered, or left to settle so that sediment sinks 7. Storing — The oil is kept in stainless-steel tanks, away from light, at about 15 °C 8. Bottling — The oil is bottled in dark glass, labelled and delivered to shops Note: The solid pomace left after separation is used as animal feed or fuel.
Writing Task 2 · 40 minutes · 250 words
Two-part question: Lifestyle
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Nowadays many people choose to eat at restaurants or buy takeaway meals rather than cook at home.
Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.