Ielts writing task

1. IELTS Writing Task 1
Shorter Writing

2. Understanding Task 1
 You need to write over 150 words (if you write any
less marks WILL be deducted).
 Write the task in 20 minutes, don’t waste too
much time on this task as it doesn’t contribute as
greatly as task 2 does to your final grade.
 Academic report on a chart or graph.

3. Marking Criteria
 Task Achievement
 Cohesion
 Vocabulary
 Grammatical range and accuracy

4. Introductory Paragraph
 Explain what the graph or chart represents,
paraphrasing the title. The chart/graph illustrates
the…
Pie Chart title: Holiday destinations chosen by
Welsh people 1955-2005.
Your first sentence: The pie chart shows the
vacation preferences of Welsh people over a fifty
year period starting in 1955 and finishing in 2005.

5. Second+ Third Paragraph
Organize the information into two separate groups
and focus on these topics:
 Major trends
 Major groups
 Exceptions
 Group information
 Other similar ideas
Write about this information focusing on a group at
a time.

6. Last Paragraph
 Two sentences summarizing your description.
(What are the major overall trends, changes,
etc.)

7. General Tips
 If you cannot compare the information of your Pie
Charts, don’t panic. In such a case giving a
summary of each picture is fine.
 Avoid giving personal opinions at all costs. (E.g.
If the graph shows rising prices and you know it’s
because of a war in Middle East, do not say
anything. Your personal opinion must not be
mentioned.)
 Always pay attention to the time frame of your
Pie Charts and use the appropriate tense (past,
present or future).
 Focus on getting all of the appropriate data from
the Pie Charts/Graphs into your writing.

8. Vocabulary to Use
Written form Percentage Fraction
a half 50% 1/2
a third 33% 1/3
two thirds 66% 2/3
three quarters 75% 3/4
a quarter 25% 1/4

9. Verbs Example
soar the use of water soared in March
leap the prices leapt to 90% in one year
Climb populations climbed to over one million by
1980
Rocket use of cars rocketed in the first decade
Surge a surge of migration is seen in November
Verbs Example
Sink The cost of housing sunk after 2008
Slip back Use of electricity slipped back to 50 in May
Dip Divorce rate dipped in the 60s
Drop A drop in crime can be seen last year
Plummet Tourists to the city plummets after
September

10. Adjective Example Adverb Example
Significant A significant
change
Significantly Changed
significantly
Dramatic A dramatic
shift
Dramatically Sifts
dramatically
Sudden A sudden rise Suddenly Has risen
suddenly
Substantial A substantial
gain
Substantially Gained
substantially
Sharp A sharp
decrease
Sharply Had
decreased
sharply

11. Adjective Example Adverb Example
Consistent A consistent
flow
Consistently Flowed
consistently
Steady A steady
movement
Steadily Moved steadily
Constant Constant shift Constantly Shifted
constantly
Adjective Example Adverb Example
Slight A slight rise Slightly Rose slightly
Gradual A gradual fall Gradually Has fallen
gradually
Marginal A marginal
change
Marginally Had changed
marginally
Modest A modest
increase
Modestly Increases
modestly

12. Which Tense to Use
 Check the graph title, and the pie chart
subtitles, look for dates!
 – if the year is before the present year (i.e. 2018),
use the past tense
– if the year is after the present year (i.e 2021),
use the future tense
– if there is no year, use the present simple tense
 Check you don’t accidentally switch the tense
half way through.
Sometimes you will get charts and graphs that will
require you to use more than one tense, but do
this deliberately and with caution.