ENGLISH BARRIER BREAKER
Academic Writing Task 1
If you're struggling with the IELTS writing task 1, I've got your back. I've been teaching IELTS for over 5 years, and I know exactly what the examiners are looking for.
Below, I have organized some of the most important information that you will need to start preparing for the exam.
​
Free Resources & Study Materials
Task 1 Practice Questions (& model Answers)
Task 1 Skill Training
Task 1 Vocabulary
Task 1 Grammatical Structures
Key Information About The IELTS Task 1:
What You Need To Know...
The IELTS task 1 is a report
This is different from task 2, which is an opinionated essay. In task 1, you will need to describe (or report) what information is being illustrated in a graph, map, or diagram.
You need to write 150 words
You need to write at least 150 words. While you can write much more than that, you should practice writing less than 220 words because it will waste time and increase your odds of sounding repetitive or writing meaningless sentences.
You are graded on 4 criteria
1. Task Achievement:
To fulfil "task achievement," you need to point out all key features of the graph and describe them clearly, with sufficient details and statistics.​ You must also not make any inferences or include anything that is not illustrated explicitly. ​
2. Coherence and cohesion:
This refers to how your ideas are structured and if they are easy to understand. You should use cohesive devices (linking words and phrases) to connect ideas when needed, and your writing must be coherent (understandable).​
3. Lexical resource:
This refers to your vocabulary. You should use a variety of uncommon vocabulary, and they should be used appropriately and not sound strange.​
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy:
This refers to your grammar ability. You will not be tested on grammar in the IELTS, but you will be assessed (and scored) on your use of grammatical structures, and on whether you can use them appropriately and without mistakes.
​
View the official IELTS Scorecard here.
The writing Task 1 accounts for less of your writing score than Task 2
-
IELTS Task 1 = 1/3 of your writing score.
-
IELTS Task 2 = 2/3 of your writing score.
What Kind Of Questions Are Asked?
There are 6 types of questions in the Academic Task 1 writing section:
Bar charts
Line graphs
Pie charts
Tables
Maps
Process diagrams
How Should I Structure My Essay?
The IELTS Task 1 has a specific, four-paragraph structure.
One key difference between Task 1 and Task 2 is that Task 1 does not have a conclusion at the end. Instead, you have an overview following the introduction. This structure will remain the same regardless of which type of graphic they provide.
1. Introduction: Paraphrase the question and describe what the visual shows.
2. Overview: Summarize the main trends or key features.
(This is the most important paragraph in Task 1.)
3. Body Paragraph 1: Describe the first set of key details and comparisons.
4. Body Paragraph 2: Describe the remaining key details and comparisons.
Do I Need To Outline Before I start Writing My Essay?
Before you begin writing, it is best to spend at least 3 minutes outlining and/or brainstorming. This is an essential step and will help you write more clearly and quickly. An essay that was not brainstormed or outlined before it was written is very likely to be of poor quality.
