This document provides guidance on writing Task 1 of the IELTS Academic test. It discusses writing a report based on information presented in a graph, diagram, or other visual. Key points include spending 20 minutes on the task, writing between 150-279 words, focusing on interpreting details and finding comparisons or contrasts, and including an overall statement that captures the main trend shown. Tips are provided for writing about different visual formats like graphs, pie charts, tables, bar graphs, diagrams, processes, and maps. Important elements to discuss are trends over time, similarities and differences, and rephrasing numerical details.

1. IELTS Writing
Workshop
Academic Task 1
By Emel Ortac

2. Task 1
 1/3 of total writing mark
 Min 150 words (no maximum)
 101-141 words = -1 TA
 51-100 words = -2 TA
 0-50 words = -3 TA
 Ideal time to spend: 20 minutes

3. Task 1
 Writing a report based on a given graph, diagram or
process.
 Things to consider: varying vocabulary and
grammatical structures, being careful not to include
opinions, organising information into coherent
paragraphs, not only focusing on details but also “the
big picture”, finding suitable comparisons and/or
contrasts between given data.

4. Things to Focus on: Graphs
 Planning:
 Interpeting the given data
 Choosing relevant details (draw/underline/circle them!)
 Paraphrasing the given sentence(s)
 Synonyms, different grammatical structure, add/omit words
 Words that are copy-pasted directly with no sign of change will
not be counted!
 Choosing something general for the “overall” statement

5. What is an “Overall”
Statement?
 Quite literally it means a piece of information that
can be seen (sometimes quite obviously upon first
glance) and is generally true for the given
graph/diagram/map.
 This is marked under TA, so there should be some
general statement either at the beginning or end of
Task 1.
 The information follows a phrase.

6. Example:
“Overall, what stands out from the graph is there was a
gradual upward trend in the number of visitors of the
National Gallery, which became the most popular
museum from being at last place, while the Victoria and
Albert Museum followed the opposite trend. ”
Takenfrom:http://www.ielts-writing.info/

7. Things to Focus on: Graphs
Vertical/horizontal axis
Highest/lowest points,
periods of stability
Similarities/differences
Trend vocabulary
Significant vs slight changes
Takenfrom:https://www.ielts-exam.net

8. Things to Focus on: Pie Charts
Takenfrom:http://www.dcielts.com/
Fractions
Paraphrasing:
The language of
numbers
Trends
Time
references

9. Things to Focus on: Tables
Similarities/differences
Paraphrasing:
The language of
numbers
Trends
Titles
Takenfrom:IELTSExpressUpper-Intermediate

10. Things to Focus on: Bar
Graphs
Trends
Time
references
Similarities/differences
Titles
Vertical/horizontal axis
Takenfrom:IELTSExpressUpper-Intermediate

11. Things to Focus on: Diagrams
Titles, given words/phrases
Similarities/differences
Paragraphing
Things to add, expanding
given words/terms
Passive voice
Takenfrom:https://www.ielts-simon.com

12. Things to Focus on: Processes
Titles, given words/phrases
Paragraphing
Things to add, expanding
given words/terms
Order words
Passive voice
Takenfrom:https://www.ieltswithmiryana.wordpress.com

13. Things to Focus on: Maps
Takenfrom:http://lparamonov.blog.com/
Similarities/differences
Paragraphing
Passive voice
Including given
details (key,
direction,
geographical
features)