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IELTS Writing Tips for Academic Task 1

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In this tutorial you will learn:

• How to write IELTS writing task 1 Academic.

This will help you in your IELTS Academic writing Task 1 exam because:

• You will learn some important IELTS writing task 1 tips

If you are preparing for IELTS Academic, you probably already know that the Writing
section requires special preparation: you comment on a data visual in Task 1 and write
an academic essay in Task 2. Read below to find our useful IELTS Writing Task 1 tips:

• Tip 1: Understand what you will see in front of yourself.

You will have to write a descriptive text that comments on a visual. Write at least 150
words and spend about 20 minutes on this task. This visual may be:

• a line graph
• a bar chart
• a pie chart
• a table
• a process, flowchart or cycle diagram
• a map

or even a multiple task visual, which is a combination of any visuals mentioned

tables, 3 pie charts, etc.). Remember this important tip: Practice writing for ALL types!
Pie charts, maps, flow diagrams etc All types of tasks are rotated and are not repeated
from one IELTS exam to another. So, if you get a diagram or a multiple task (3 bar
charts) at the exam, and you barely practised describing it in 150 words, your score will
be severely compromised. Make sure that you are well familiarized with all visual types
and have written at least 2 practice answers for each type, including the multiple tasks.
Be aware, this is as much an EXAM SKILL as it is a LANGUAGE SKILL. Summarising a
chart or graphic adequately in your own language will be a challenge.

• Tip 2: Understand what you need to do with that graph, chart, map or diagram in
task 1.

No matter the task type, IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 will always state:
“summarise the information
by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant”.
What does this mean? Let’s analyze these instructions in more detail and clarify what
you will have to do.

• You will have to to point out only the most relevant information from the visual
(=summarize, main features),
• You you will have to decide what to comment on (=selecting) based on the data
in the graph,
• You you will need to use the numbers from it (=reporting) and not simply
enumerate the data, but
• You will need to evaluate how they are similar or different (=make comparisons).

Keep this in mind when you get to Step 4 – building the structure of your answer. And
once again, remember this. Don’t just list data: compare, contrast, analyze minimums
and maximums, identify and describe trends. Don’t describe everything you see. Don’t
make a point of writing every single figure from the graph: only choose and report the
numbers that illustrate those comparisons you make. Develop the ability to group the
data. This is a non-language skill, practice looking at graphs, identifying similarities,
maximums, minimums, and data points that stand out.

• Tip 3: Don’t waste too much time on Task 1.

Why?Because this might affect the quality of your answer to Task 2. Planning, writing
and proofreading your Task 1 answer should take you no more than 20 minutes.
Otherwise, you will have less than 40 minutes for the Task 2 essay, which might
become quite a challenge. Besides, IELTS Writing Task 1 is worth only about 30% of
your entire IELTS Writing score. So, plan your time appropriately. Distribute your time
like this:

• 2-3 minutes for planning, deciding what to select and comment on.
• 10-15 minutes for only writing the answer (don’t add new ideas at this stage!).
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• 2-3 minutes for proofreading and fixing minor mistakes. Getting feedback on your
essay will enable you to identify where you lose points. While proofreading your
work, look for the mistakes you made on your previous task 1 answers.

Writing more is certainly great but be careful – it might steal from your time for Task 2,
the essay.

• Tip 4: Plan your structure for academic task 1

If you want to write a great IELTS Academic Task 1 answer, you should certainly think
well of the structure. It is very easy when you know what to keep in mind. It is very easy
when you know what to keep in mind by following these extra tips for writing task 1:

1. Read the title. You need to stop and focus on the formulation of the title to make
sure that you will report the information accurately and in the correct order.
Sometimes, exam takers rush into writing only to realize that they had
misinterpreted the title.
2. Decide what are the main features that you need to write about or report in that
chart, diagram or any other visual: what you are comparing, describing,
observing. Give yourself arguments why those are the most important ones and
support them with numbers from the visual.
3. Aim to identify groups of data, maximums, minimums, peaks, and patterns.
4. Plan your paragraphing: make a point of having an introduction, and at least two
body paragraphs.
5. Write a great introduction. The first, introductory paragraph should be only ONE
sentence. Here, remember the WHAT-WHERE-WHEN logic: the intro should say
WHAT the graph illustrates, as well as WHERE and WHEN the data are set.
6. In the introduction you can also write your summary, just in case you don’t have
time near the end.
7. Write great body paragraphs. Here are some ideas on how to do that.

• Describe only the essential information from the visual in task 1: minimums,
maximums, trends, comparisons, contrasts. Support these using the most relevant
numbers from the graph or chart. Go back and revise our Step 2 in this tutorial.
• Group relevant information by topic. You could have a comparison body
paragraph and a contrast one. Or,depending on the topic, you might have three
body paragraphs: 1. minimums and maximums, 2. comparison and contrast, and
3. trends.
• Describe WHAT happened not WHY it happened. You cannot know the cause of
the events or phenomena illustrated in the graph and you should not try to
explain that.
• Still, be aware of the fact that body structure patterns are very numerous and
greatly depend on task types in task 1. For example, map description body
paragraphs will differ completely from table description bodies.
• Use appropriate yet various transitions /cohesive devices / connectors to make
sure your ideas flow smoothly and will be understood clearly.
• Where relevant, plan to use superlatives in your answer.
• When planning, search for data to compare.
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Tip 5: Choose your language The choice of your language when writing your Academic
Task 1 response is also crucial. It can dictate up to 20% of your Writing score for this
task. But what should you be including here? Here are some tips on using great
language in writing Task 1:

1. Make sure you do not reuse the exact words from the Task 1 question. Use words
with the same or similar meanings, be it in the introduction or in the rest of the
Task 1 answer. It is important to paraphrase in your task 1. If you do reuse the
exact formulations from the task, you will be penalized because doing so points
at your poor range of vocabulary.
2. Use a variety of words and word structures. Do not repeat the structures you use,
even if you know they are awesome. Instead, use synonyms, and make yourself a
point of saying it in in other words. This is a sure pathway to a good score for
vocabulary range and accuracy!
3. Comparative structures. For a Band 7 or higher you must have the language to
compare data points and groups effectively.
4. Vary your sentence structures. Use both complex and simple sentences, and don’t
avoid either of them. And yes, only writing long sentences makes your style heavy
and cumbersome, so remember to “dilute” it appropriately with simpler
sentences.
5. Master the superlative. Refresh the rules, then do online quizzes, in most of the
graphics you encounter you will need it. The superlative also enriches speaking test
answers.
6. Notice time words when you read the visual title in writing Task 1. This will help
you make the right choice of tenses and place your commentary appropriately in
a time frame.
7. Do not use any informal vocabulary whatsoever! Your IELTS test is called
Academic for a reason, so keep in mind that your style should be serious, and no
slang words, idioms, contractions or conversational words should be used.