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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 practice

Task 1 asks you to describe a chart, table, map or process in at least 150 words, in about 20 minutes. Your first band score is free.

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By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated

Your band

Writing, Task 1
6.5
  • Task achievement6.5
  • Coherence and cohesion6.5
  • Lexical resource6.0
  • Grammar6.0
You wrote
The number of visitors were raised from 2010 to 2020.
Try
The number of visitors rose steadily from 2010 to 2020.
Next step

Add an overview that names the biggest change, then resubmit.

The app, shown on a laptop

Task 1 chart types

Some questions give you two together, such as a line graph and a pie chart.

  • Line graph

  • Bar chart

  • Pie chart

  • Table

  • Map

  • Process

What Task 1 asks for

The instruction

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

Length

At least 150 words

Time

About 20 minutes of the 60-minute writing test

How much it counts

One third. Task 2 counts twice as much.

Style

Formal or neutral, in full paragraphs. Don't use notes or bullet points.

Questions to practise

Over 60 Task 1 questions

How it is marked

Task 1 is marked on four criteria, and each one counts the same. Our engine marks all four against the public band descriptors. It sees the same chart you do.

Task Achievement

A clear overview, the key features and the right figures.

Coherence and Cohesion

How easy your writing is to follow.

Lexical Resource

The range of words you use, and how well you use them.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The range of grammar you use, and how accurate it is.

Practise Task 1 now

Task 1 questions to try

Ten of the questions in the app.

  • Line graph

    The graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

  • Bar chart

    The chart below shows how frequently people in the USA ate in fast food restaurants between 2003 and 2013.

  • Pie chart

    The pie charts below show units of electricity production by fuel source in Australia and France in 1980 and 2000.

  • Table

    The table below gives information about the underground railway systems in six cities.

  • Map

    The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.

  • Map

    The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

  • Process diagram

    The diagram below shows how instant noodles are manufactured.

  • Process diagram

    The diagram below shows the process for recycling plastic bottles.

  • Graph and pie chart

    The graph below shows the demand for electricity in England during typical days in winter and summer. The pie chart shows how electricity is used in an average English home.

  • Line graph

    The graph below shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.

A structure for Task 1

  1. Study the chart and find the key features, the things that stand out most.

  2. Start with one sentence that says what the chart shows, in your own words.

  3. Write an overview of the main trends or differences. You need a clear overview for Band 7 or higher.

  4. Describe the key features in short paragraphs, with figures from the chart. Compare them where it helps.

  5. Report only what the chart shows. Task 1 doesn't need a conclusion.

Step 2 on a real question

The question

The graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Your first sentence

The line graph shows how many tourists visited an island in the Caribbean from 2010 to 2017.

Other ways to practise

Common questions

How many words should I write for IELTS Writing Task 1?

At least 150 words, in about 20 minutes. Task 2 counts twice as much, so don't take time from it to write a longer Task 1.

What types of charts come up in Academic Task 1?

Line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, maps and process diagrams. Some questions give you two together, such as a line graph and a pie chart.

Does Task 1 need an overview or a conclusion?

It needs an overview: a short summary of the main trends or differences. You need a clear overview for Band 7 or higher. It doesn't need a conclusion.

Can I get my Task 1 checked for free?

Yes. Your first writing score and your first speaking score are free. You get a band on each of the four criteria and corrections on your own sentences.

Can I see a Band 9 answer to my Task 1 question?

Yes, with Pro. Our engine will rewrite your answer to get Band 9. It keeps your ideas. You can compare the two line by line.

Get the score you need

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