This document provides an overview of IELTS Writing Task 1. It explains that Task 1 requires a short report summarizing the key details and trends shown in a graph, chart or diagram. It offers examples of line graphs, bar charts and pie charts that may appear, as well as a process diagram. Useful language for describing changes over time, comparisons, and processes is also provided. The key points emphasize reading the question carefully, writing at least 150 words, paraphrasing the prompt, including an overview and organizing ideas logically.

1. IELTS Writing – Task 1 - Overview
In Task One, you have to write a short report
of 150 words about a graph, chart, table,
diagram or a process. You are advised to
spend 20 minutes on this part of the test.

2. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Line graph
This is a simplified example of a Writing Task 1 focusing on a line
graph. In Task 1 you are required to present a report which gives an
overview of the main trends in the graph, along with some of the key
details. Before moving on, think about what you would write.
Fantasian Oil Exports (millions of
barrels/year)
120
100
80
60
Oil
40
20
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

3. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Bar chart
The data in the Task 1 might also be presented as a bar graph.
Fantasian Oil Exports (millions of barrels)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

4. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Pie chart
Information from one particular year can also be shown on a pie chart
Exports from Fantasia 2005
15.00%
35.00%
10.00% Oil Rubber Tea
15.00%
5.00% Cotton Coffee Paper
20.00%

5. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Process Diagram
The Production of Cocoa Powder

6. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Line graph
Fantasian Oil Exports 1960-2000 This line graph shows the amount of oil
exported from Fantasia in the period 1960 to
(millions of barrels) 2000. It is clear that there was an overall rise in
120
oil exports from this country, although they
began to fall towards the end of this period.
100
Looking in more detail, it can be observed that
from 1960 to 1970 there was a slight rise in
exports, from 10 million to 20 million barrels.
80 From 1970 to 1980 there was a moderate
increase in exports, to 45 million barrels, and
then a dramatic rise to 100 million barrels in
60
Oil 1990. From 1990 to 2000, however, exports fell
moderately to 80 million barrels per year.
40 Nevertheless, in 2000, exports were still eight
times higher than they were at the start of this
period.
20
Introduction
0 Overview
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Detail

7. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Useful Language
(for reporting changes over time)
1. 1. There was a slight rise in X.
X rose slowly.
2. There was a moderate rise in X.
2. X rose moderately
3. There was a dramatic rise in X.
X rose dramatically.
3.

8. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Useful Language
(for reporting changes over time)
1. 1. There was a slight fall in X.
X fell slightly.
2.
2. There was a moderate fall in X.
X fell moderately
3.
3. There was a dramatic fall in X.
X fell dramatically.

9. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Useful Language
(for reporting changes over time)
1. 1. X was stable
There was no change in X
X remained steady
2.
2. X fluctuated
There was a fluctuation in X

10. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Bar chart
The data in the Task 1 might also be presented as a bar graph.
Fantasian Oil Exports (millions of barrels)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

11. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Bar graph
Bar charts can give data over a time period (e.g. 1960 to 2000) or they
can give data from one particular time. The following bar chart gives
data on Fantasian exports in 2005 as a percentage of total export
value. How would you write about this chart? Would you use words
like ‘fall’ and ‘rise’?
Exports from Fantasia 2005
40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
2005
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Oil Rubber Tea Cotton Coffee Paper

12. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Bar graph
This bar chart shows the various products
Exports from Fantasia 2005 which were exported from Fantasia in 2005 as
40.00% a percentage of total exports from that
country. It is clear that oil is by far the most
35.00% important of the six export products. Looking
in closer detail at the chart, it can be observed
that oil accounts for 35% of all exports in
30.00%
2005. This is 15% higher than the next most
important export, which is tea, at 20%. Cotton
25.00% and paper were equally important to the
Fantasian economy in 2005. They made up
20.00% 30% of the total figure, while coffee and
rubber were relatively minor contributors to
the export figure, at 10% and 5% respectively.
15.00%
Fantasia is clearly a country that relies heavily
on its natural resources and agriculture.
10.00%
5.00%
Introduction
Overview
0.00%
Detail
Oil Rubber Tea Cotton Coffee Paper

13. IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Pie chart
Information from one particular year can also be shown on a This pie chart shows the various products which
pie chart were exported from Fantasia in 2005 as a
percentage of total exports from that country. It is
Exports from Fantasia 2005 clear that oil is by far the most important of the six
export products. Looking in closer detail at the
chart, it can be observed that oil accounts for 35%
of all exports in 2005. This is 15% higher than the
15.00% Oil next most important export, which is tea, at 20%.
Rubber Cotton and paper were equally important to the
35.00%
10.00% Tea
Fantasian economy in 2005. They made up 30% of
the total figure, while coffee and rubber were
Cotton
15.00% relatively minor contributors to the export
Coffee
figure, at 10% and 5% respectively. Fantasia is
Paper clearly a country that relies heavily on its natural
20.00% 5.00%
resources and agriculture.
Introduction
Overview
Detail

14. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Useful Language
(for reporting situations at one particular time)
•Language of simple description
•Language of comparison & contrast

15. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Useful Language
(for reporting situations at one particular time, or over time)
Simple description
In 2005, oil accounted for 35% of total exports from Fantasia.
Coffee exports were 10% of total exports.
Cotton and tea represent 30% of the total export figure.
Superlatives
Oil was the most important export in 2005, at 35% of total exports.
At 15%, cotton was the second most important export.
The least valuable export was rubber, at only 5%.
Coffee and rubber were the least significant exports, at 10% and 5% respectively.
Comparison & Contrast
Cotton and paper were equally important exports, at 15% each.
Oil was 15% more valuable than cotton, at 35% of total exports.
Cotton was more valuable than coffee as an export from this country in 2005.
Oil was 35% of total exports in 2005, whereas rubber was only 5%.
There was a 15% difference between exports of oil and cotton.
In 2000, oil exports were eight times higher than they were in 1960.

16. Writing Task 1 – Process Diagram
Sometimes, instead of a graph or table, the
Task 1 may be a diagram which shows a
process (the way something works, or how
something is done). The language used in this
kind of task is different from the language we
use in writing about graphs or tables.

17. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Process Diagram
This diagram shows various stages in the
The Production of Cocoa Powder production process for cocoa powder, from
the tree to the finished confectionery
product. Firstly, the cocoa pods are grown
on the plantation, which takes between 8
and 40 years. When each pod contains 20-
50 beans, they are harvested. Next, the fruit
is opened up and the beans are removed.
They are then put into wooden containers
to ferment for a few weeks. After that, the
beans are spread out on tables and left to
dry in the sun for a week before being
sorted to remove any bad ones, and packed
into sacks. The cocoa beans are then loaded
onto ships and exported to overseas
manufacturers. The manufacturers clean
and grind the beans and then roast them.
Next, various kinds and qualities of cocoa
powder are combined in the blending
Introduction & Overview process. The resulting cocoa powder is used
Detail in the manufacture of chocolate
drinks, cakes, biscuits and other
confectionary items.

18. IELTS Writing Task 1 – Useful Language
(for describing processes)
PASSIVE VOICE SEQUENCING WORDS
In describing processes we can use active Because we are writing about stages in a
or passive voice. However, the present process, we need words to link these stages.
simple passive is used more. Look at the sequencing words in these
We can say: sentences:
–“The plantation workers harvest the Firstly, the cocoa pods are grown.
cocoa pods” (active)
OR Next, they are harvested.
–“The cocoa pods are harvested (by the
plantation workers) (passive)
They are then dried in the sun.
The present simple passive is formed as
follows: Before being shipped, the beans are packed in
sacks.
Noun + present simple of ‘be’ + Past participle (pp)
The beans are ground after being sorted and
cleaned
Cocoa beans are harvested
(notice in the last two examples that ‘before’
and ‘after’ are followed by ‘being + pp’
because this is a phrase)

19. IELTS Writing Task 1
Key points to remember
1. Read the question very carefully. Highlight the key words in the
question and on the diagram (you can write on the test paper).
Look for and highlight the overall trends.
2. You must write at least 150 words. If you write fewer than 150
words, you will be penalized. You should know before the exam
roughly what 150 words looks like in your own handwriting. (Don’t
waste time counting them in the exam).
3. Paraphrase the prompt – do not copy it. If you copy phrases or
sentences from the prompt, they will not be included in the word
count.
4. Make sure you write an overview. You should report the overall
trends. You can highlight the most significant information on the
diagram. This can come at the start or the end of your writing.

20. IELTS Writing Task 1
Key points to remember
5. Make sure you organise your ideas in a logical fashion.
Group related information together in separate paragraphs.
6. You do not have to write a conclusion. An overview can be
used as a conclusion.
7. Be careful to use the figures and data correctly.
8. You should spend only 20 minutes on Task 1 (it is worth less
than Task 2). Wear a watch to help you time yourself.