IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Task 1
Academic Task 1 asks you to summarise a chart, table, diagram or map in at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. You report the main features and make comparisons where relevant; you don't give opinions or reasons.
A simple structure works for every type: one sentence paraphrasing the task, an overview of the two or three most important features, then two body paragraphs with the key details and figures.
A simple structure
- Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase what the visual shows, with the time period and units.
- Overview (2 sentences): the two or three most important features. No figures needed here; this is what examiners look for first.
- Body paragraph 1: the first group of key features, with figures and comparisons.
- Body paragraph 2: the second group, again with figures. No conclusion or opinion needed.
Example question
The chart below shows the percentage distribution of household water use by purpose in three regions combined in 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Drinking and cookingWashingGardensOther
Planning hint: Overview: washing was the largest use in 2000, but gardens nearly caught up, so by 2020 the two were almost equal (washing 38%, gardens 37%), while drinking and cooking remained the smallest; compare the four uses across the two years, grouping the changing categories separately from the stable one.
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How to answer
Task One Report Purpose
- Task 1 asks you to describe the visual information in words.
- Select the main features and report them accurately.
- Use figures and comparisons that are shown in the visual.
- Keep your wording factual; do not add opinions or causes that the visual does not show.
Example: Task 1: a bar chart showing weekly library visits in three years. The chart compares weekly visits in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Visits rose from 120 in 2018 to 180 in 2020, then reached 240 in 2022. Overall, the number of visits increased across the period.
Writing a Task One Overview
- An overview gives the reader the main message of the visual in one or two sentences.
- Describe broad changes, comparisons or dominant features, not every category or exact figure.
- Use a clear signal such as “Overall,” to show that you are giving the main picture.
- Keep the overview factual. Do not add reasons that the visual does not show.
Example: Task 1: a line graph showing bus, train and cycling use from 2005 to 2025. Overall, bus and train use increased, while cycling became less popular. The bus remained the most popular option.
Choosing Overview Features
- Choose features that describe the chart as a whole, not a small detail.
- Look for the strongest overall movement, such as a clear rise, fall or stable pattern.
- Notice a marked contrast, such as one category rising while another falls.
- Prefer a feature that stands out across the period over a brief fluctuation.
- Leave out a change that is small compared with the chart’s main pattern.
Example: Task 1: a line graph of energy sources from 2000 to 2020. Overall, gas use rose to become the most common source, while coal use fell considerably. Solar use increased only slightly.
Paraphrasing the Task
- Identify the chart type, subject, measure and time period in the prompt.
- Change key words or sentence structure, but keep the same meaning.
- Use precise alternatives, such as “proportion” for “percentage” when the meaning fits.
- Keep numbers, categories and dates accurate. Do not add details the prompt does not give.
Example: Prompt: The bar chart shows the percentage of people travelling to work by car, bus, bicycle and train in a town in 2005 and 2025.. The chart compares the proportions of commuters using four transport methods in one town in 2005 and 2025.
Making Direct Comparisons
- State both categories or periods in the comparison, so the reader can see exactly what you are comparing.
- Use higher than or lower than for figures. Use more or fewer with countable things, such as people or items.
- For percentages, use percentage points to describe the difference between two shares.
- Use twice as much or twice as many only when one figure is exactly double the other.
Example: Task 1: a table showing the share of four book types borrowed in one week. Fiction accounted for 40% of loans, compared with 20% for children's books. The fiction share was twice the children's share. Non-fiction stood at 25%, 10 percentage points above reference books at 15%.
Practise
Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.
1What is the main purpose of an Academic Writing Task 1 report?
2A chart shows that café sales were 40, 55 and 70 cups in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Which sentence gives a factual summary?
3A chart shows that sales of tea rose, coffee sales fell, and tea was more popular at the end. Which sentence gives an overview?
4A line graph shows that the number of visitors to Site A fell over time, while the number at Site B rose and was higher by the end. Which is the best overview?
5A line graph shows that use of gas and coal changes substantially over the period, while solar use changes only a little. Which feature is most suitable for the overview?
6A chart shows library visits on four days. Visits rise gradually on Monday and Tuesday, fall sharply on Wednesday, and stay almost unchanged on Thursday. Which feature should you select for the overview?
7The pie charts show the proportions of household spending on food, housing and transport in 2000 and 2020. Which is an accurate paraphrase?
8The table shows the average monthly rainfall, in millimetres, for four months. Which sentence keeps the same meaning?
Test hacks
Task 1 needs an overview
Write a sentence that sums up the main trends or the biggest differences, without numbers. Many writers skip it.
Why it works: An overview is essential for a high Task Achievement score.
Answer every part of Task 2
Underline each question in the prompt. A two-part question needs two clear answers.
Why it works: Missing part of the task limits your Task Response score, however good your English is.
Give Task 2 more time
Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 (150+ words) and 40 minutes on Task 2 (250+ words).
Why it works: Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score.
Practise with feedback on every answer
ielts.coach builds daily lessons and practice around your interests and level, marks Writing and Speaking like an examiner in seconds, and plans your weeks to test day.