IELTS Writing Task 1: Everything You Need to Know

IELTS Writing Task 1 asks you to write a summary of at least 150 words about some visual information, usually in the form of a graph, chart, or diagram. You must select the main features and describe and compare the data.

IELTS Writing Task 1 in 6 Simple Steps

If you’re taking Academic IELTS, you’ll be required to write a report on a data set, map or process in Writing Task 1. In this video, I’ll show you how to give the examiner exactly what they want in 6 simple steps.

Academic Writing Task 1 Strategy

1. Understand how the test is marked. Knowing the marking criteria will allow you to give the examiner exactly what they need.
2. Paraphrase the question. It is best to paraphrase the question in the first paragraph. You can do this by using synonyms.
3. Write the overview. To write your overview, pick 3 or 4 of the main features and write about them generally without referencing any data.
4. Support the main features. In a new paragraph, support the key features with the data in the information given to you.
5. Check your work. Check your report for spelling and grammar mistakes. Make sure that the data you mentioned is also accurate!

Essential Writing Task 1 Skills

• How to Write an Overview Paragraph 

• How to Paraphrase 

• How to Write a Complex Sentence

• How Many Words? 

Around 150 words? Exactly 150 words or over 150 words? How many words over? How do I know how many words I have? This article answers all those questions and more.

• Task 1 Charts Checklist

This quick checklist can be used for any Task 1 question and help you ensure you have everything you need to get your best possible score.

• Task 1 Tips

Here is a list of all the tips I give my students doing Task 1.

• The Danger of Synonyms

Synonyms are very important…However, they can also really reduce your mark if used incorrectly.

• 6 Common Mistakes

The six most common mistakes that stop students from getting over a Band 6.

• Paragraphing and Editing

This article will show you how to make your writing as clear and as easy to read as possible. It will also advise you on whether to use a pen or pencil.

Writing Task 1 Full Lessons

• Writing Academic Task 1 in 5 Easy Steps 

Task 1 certainly can seem difficult if you haven’t seen it before. This lesson breaks the question down into 5 easy-to-understand steps.

• Charts Lesson

Charts are probably the most common Task 1 question, so in this post, we will show you what data to choose and how to describe it.

• Maps Lesson

Maps are not very common, but they are the easiest (in my humble opinion). Therefore, if you don’t learn how to do them, you could really regret it if one appears in your exam.

• Multiple Charts/Graphs 

What should you do if you get two different charts or graphs? This lesson shows you how.

• Process Lesson

Sometimes you will be shown a process, such as a life cycle or how something is manufactured. This certainly requires a very specific approach – you can learn what it is in this article.

Academic Task 1 Sample Answers

You must have some good IELTS samples to compare your writing and see if you are at your required level.

• Bar Chart Sample Essay (Cars in Asia) 
• Process- Cement and Concrete Production
• Pie Chart (Italy and Yemen Populations) 
• Process Question
• Bar Chart Question (UK Telephone Usage) 
• Line Graph (US Consumption of Energy)
• Bar Chart Sample Answer (International Students)

General Training Writing Task 1

In IELTS General Training, you must know how to give the examiner what they want. Therefore, you must understand whether you should write a formal or informal letter. The downloadable PDF below will teach you everything you need to know about formal and informal letters, including a step-by-step strategy for scoring a Band 7 or above.

General Training Writing Task 1 in 5 Simple Steps

1. Understand how the test is marked. Knowing the marking criteria is the best way of giving the examiner exactly what they need and nothing else.
2. Decide whether the letter is formal or informal. This part is easy. If the question asks you to write to a ‘friend’, it should be an informal letter. If the question asks you to write to anyone else, it should be a formal letter. It is that simple!
3. Discuss each bullet point from the question. Make sure to take a new paragraph for each bullet point. This will make your letter easy to read and understand.
4. Sign off your letter. Don’t overcomplicate this part. Include a sign-off suitable to your letter’s tone and write your name beneath.
5. Check your work. Make sure your letter doesn’t contain any grammar or vocabulary mistakes.

Essential Writing Task 1 Skills

• Letter Writing Tips

This article will outline important guidelines you must follow to write a high-scoring letter in IELTS Writing Task 1.

• How to Write an Informal Letter

You must write your letter in the correct tone. Therefore, this post will show you how to write an informal letter that will boost your score in IELTS Writing.

• How to Write a Formal Letter

Many people worry about writing in a formal tone. However, this post will show you how simple it can be to use formal language and get the score you need in IELTS Writing Task 1.

General Training Essential Writing Task 1 Skills

• Task 1 General Training Writing Strategy

Do you know what a Band 7+ letter looks like? This post will share a strong IELTS sample letter alongside a foolproof strategy so that you can write your own.

• Task 1 General Training Writing Guide

This guide will teach you exactly how to write a Band 7+ Task 1 letter, including formal vs informal letters, common mistakes to avoid and a structure you can follow from home.

Sample Answers

You must have some good IELTS samples so that you can compare your writing and see if you are at your required level:

• Formal and informal sample letters.

Writing Task 1 Essential Information

These facts will help you understand what the test is and how it is scored so that you can move on to improving your performance.

1. People doing the Academic test will write a report on a data set, map, or process. People doing General Training will write a letter.
2. You must write 150 words or more.
3. You should spend around 20 minutes on this part of the test.
4. Task 1 is worth 1/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
5. You will be assessed in four areas: Task Achievement (25%) Coherence and Cohesion (25%) Lexical Resource (25%) Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)
6. The most important thing is that you can demonstrate that you can clearly communicate in English.
7. The key to doing well is to know exactly what the examiners want and give it to them.

However, try not to worry about these small details. Instead, you should focus on what really matters – improving your performance.

Grammar and Vocabulary Guide

Grammar and vocabulary combined account for 50% of your score in IELTS Writing Task 1. Therefore, you must find your common grammar and vocabulary mistakes and then fix them. In my experience, this is the best way to boost your score in these exam sections.

• Grammar and Vocabulary Guide

This post will show you the specific grammar structures and phrases you need to score high in IELTS Writing Task 1.

• Top 10 Grammar Mistakes

I have found some common grammar mistakes after marking thousands of tests. See the interactive tool below for the most commonly asked questions we receive about IELTS Writing Task 1: