Useful IELTS writing task 1 tips, answers, lessons & videos for success achieving a high score. This page contains all the information and help you need to do well. Learn about the IELTS marking criteria, paragraphing, vocabulary and much more. This page has tips for Academic writing task 1 and GT writing task 1. You can find GT task 1 at the bottom of this page.
On this page, you will find the following for Academic Task 1:
- Writing Task 1 Test Information
- Writing Task 1 Sample Practice Charts
- Writing Task 1 Tips & Techniques
- Writing Task 1 Model Answers
- Writing Task 1 Practice Lessons
- GT Task 1 (bottom of page)
Go directly to GT Writing Task 1: GT Task 1 Letter
IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic
Overview of the IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic Test:
- You have one hour in total for your whole writing test (both task 1 and task 2).
- IELTS recommend you spend no more than 20 mins on writing task 1.
- You can manage your own time in the writing test. The one hour is yours to use as you wish. If you want to do task 2 first, you can.
- The instructions say “Write at least 150 words”. This means you need to write over 150 words.
- Writing Task 1 is a report, not an essay.
- Writing Task 1 counts for about 33% of your writing marks.
- There are four marking criteria each worth 25%:
- Task Achievement / Coherence & Cohesion / Vocabulary / Grammar
- Band Score Details & Tips for Improvement: IELTS WRITING TASK 1 BAND SCORES EXPLAINED
Types of IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic)
Below are the six types of tasks that can appear in IELTS Writing task 1. You can also get a combination of two tasks together. You will find MODEL ANSWERS and SAMPLE PRACTICE TASKS linked below for each type of writing task 1.
Bar Charts
Charts that compare and contrast data. Data is divided into columns representing categories and compared with between two groups, such as men and women.
Line Graphs
A graph that shows trends of two lines over a period of time. The lines represent numbers in two or more categories. This shows increases, decreases and other changes.
Tables
A table containing data that can be complex with many categories divided into rows and columns. These could be compare/contrast or change over time.
Pie Charts
These show proportions of a whole divided into different categories. Sometimes compare/contrast and sometimes change over time.
Diagrams
It could be a process of how something works or how it is made. Or it could be a cycle such as a life cycle or water cycle. or a cycle. Diagrams contain stages and steps.
Maps
A map of a town/city or report or a floor plan of a building. Describing the layout, position of places and special features on the map. Sometimes there are two maps to compare in different time periods.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Practice Charts
Below is a link to a collection of practice tables, line graphs, bar charts, maps and diagrams for you to practice with at home.
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IELTS Writing Task 1 Tips & Techniques
Although writing task 1 is only worth 33% of your total writing marks, it is often the reason why people struggle to hit band score 7. Task 1 is a report and not an essay. This is important to know because you can learn strategies for report writing more easily that for essay writing. So, take your time to improve your task 1.
ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR WRITING TASK 1
Recent Feature Video: Introduction Paragraph
How to Write an Introduction Paragraph for IELTS Writing Task 1
Writing an effective introduction for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 can seem simple—but it’s also easy to get wrong. In this guide, we’ll break down how to write a strong introduction, avoid common mistakes, and improve your band score. You’ll learn from examples and discover strategies for a variety of tasks, including bar charts, pie charts, tables, and diagrams.
Why the Introduction Matters
The introduction is your first impression. Although it's short, it must be accurate and clearly paraphrase the task. Many students make basic vocabulary, grammar, or factual errors right at the start, which can lower their band score.
What Goes into an IELTS Task 1 Introduction?
Your introduction should:
- Paraphrase the task statement
- Identify the type of visual (bar chart, pie chart, etc.)
- Include key details like units, categories, time period, and location
- Avoid any mention of data or trends (those go in the overview or body)
Sample Task & Common Errors
Let’s look at a bar chart titled:
“The chart below shows the sales for a coffee shop in a town in the UK from 2000 to 2020.”
A poor introduction might look like this:
The diagram below give the information for the sales of for example te coffee hot chocolate food in a cafe which locates in an English Village from 2000 to 2020 units measure in Pounds Sterling.
This short paragraph contains 15 errors, including:
- “Diagram” – It’s a bar chart, not a diagram.
- “Below” – Not needed in formal writing.
- “Give” – Subject-verb agreement error; should be “gives”.
- “The information for” – Wrong preposition. Should be “information about”.
- “For example” – Unnecessary in IELTS Task 1. You're reporting real data, not hypothetical examples.
- Inaccurate categories – “Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, food” is incomplete and misordered. It should list all six: coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, cakes, soup.
- “Cafe” – Not equivalent to a coffee shop.
- Missing name – The specific coffee shop is called Cuper Coffee Shop.
- “Which locates” – Should be “which is located”.
- “English village” – Incorrect. The original states “a town in the UK.”
- “From 2000 to 2020” – Better paraphrased as “between 2000 and 2020.”
- Capital letters – “Pound Sterling” should be lowercase in a sentence.
- “Units measure in” – Should be “units are measured in.”
Corrected Version
The bar chart gives information about the typical monthly sales of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, cakes, and soup at Cuper Coffee Shop, which is located in a British town, between 2000 and 2020. Units are measured in pound sterling.
The bar chart gives information about the typical monthly sales of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, cakes, and soup at Cuper Coffee Shop, which is located in a British town, between 2000 and 2020. Units are measured in pound sterling.
How to Improve It for a Higher Band Score
Let’s raise the level by improving precision and paraphrasing:
The bar chart illustrates the typical monthly revenue of Cuper Coffee Shop, a café located in a British town, from the sales of six food and drink items between 2000 and 2020. Units are measured in pound sterling.
Why It’s Better:
- “Illustrates” – A formal alternative to “gives information about.”
- “Monthly revenue” – More accurate than “sales.”
- “Six food and drink items” – Groups the categories well.
- Improved structure and precision – Reflects better grammar and vocabulary.
Introduction Strategy for Multiple Tasks (Tables + Charts)
If you’re given more than one visual (e.g., a table and pie charts), your introduction must include both in a single paragraph. Here's an example:
Task Description:
“The table and charts give information about the total cost and sources of fish imported to the US between 1988 and 2000.”
Band 9 Introduction:
The table shows how much the US spent in total on imported fish in billions of dollars in 1988, 1992, and 2000, while the pie charts illustrate the proportion of fish sourced from China, Canada, and other countries in the same years.
The table shows how much the US spent in total on imported fish in billions of dollars in 1988, 1992, and 2000, while the pie charts illustrate the proportion of fish sourced from China, Canada, and other countries in the same years.
How to Handle Life Cycles and Processes
Life Cycle Tasks
Paraphrasing “life cycle” can be tricky. Try memorizing one of these high-quality options:
The diagram illustrates the stages in the life of a frog.
The diagram illustrates the phases a frog passes through during its life.
The diagram illustrates the stages of development that a frog passes through during its lifetime.
Process Diagrams
Let’s take the process of collecting rainwater in Australia. The original description might read:
“The diagram shows how rainwater is collected for the use of drinking water in an Australian town.”
Here are six high-quality introductions at different levels:
Band 6.5: The diagram illustrates how rainwater is collected for drinking in a town in Australia.
Band 7.0: The diagram illustrates the process of collecting rainwater in order to use it for drinking in a town in Australia.
Band 7.5: The diagram illustrates the collection of rainwater and how it is processed to be used for drinking water in a town in Australia.
Band 8.0: The diagram illustrates the way a town in Australia collects and processes rainwater to be used for drinking water.
Band 8.5: The diagram illustrates the way a town in Australia recycles rainwater to make it safe for drinking.
Band 9.0: The diagram illustrates the way in which a town in Australia harvests and recycles rainwater so that it can be safely consumed.
These examples demonstrate how changing word forms, reordering structure, and using precise vocabulary like “harvests,” “recycles,” and “safely consumed” can boost your score.
Final Tips
- Paraphrasing is not just about synonyms—it’s also about restructuring information and improving clarity.
- Avoid repeating information unnecessarily.
- Make sure your introduction accurately reflects the visual data—don’t speculate.
- Practice writing introductions for all chart types, including maps, processes, tables, and combinations.
Explore More: Free IELTS Resources
You can find model answers, band score explanations, and practice lessons on here. Make sure to check the Writing Task 1 band score descriptors, which explain exactly how examiners grade your response in areas such as:
- Task Achievement
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Bonus: An Idiom for Fun
At the end of her video, Liz shared a fun idiom: “To address the elephant in the room.”
It means acknowledging something obvious that no one wants to mention. In her case, it was her grey hair after years away from teaching. A great reminder that experience, not age, is what matters—especially in education.
Conclusion
Writing a strong introduction in IELTS Writing Task 1 is a skill you can master with practice. Focus on accuracy, avoid unnecessary details, and use smart paraphrasing. Whether you’re tackling a line graph, life cycle, or multi-task question, a clear and error-free introduction sets the tone for your whole response.
Writing Task 1 Model Answers
Writing a strong introduction in IELTS Writing Task 1 is a skill you can master with practice. Focus on accuracy, avoid unnecessary details, and use smart paraphrasing. Whether you’re tackling a line graph, life cycle, or multi-task question, a clear and error-free introduction sets the tone for your whole response.
IELTS model answers for charts, graphs, diagrams, maps and tables.. Each sample answer is estimated band score 9. These model answer are there to guide you and to learn from. Think about the content, structure, linking, language, overview, grammar and word count when you review them. Also, read the comments on each page to learn more – some comments are like extra lessons.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Practice Lessons
IELTS writing task 1 free practice lessons to help you develop report writing skills and understand about the requirements of writing task 1 academic. Many of these lessons contain model answers so they really are worth reviewing.
- Table & Pie Charts: Exercise & Model Answer
- Video: Using Accurate Language for Data
- IELTS Diagram Rainwater: Exercise & Model Answer
- Two Line Graphs: Exercise & Model Answer
- IELTS Table Practice: with model answer & extra tips
- IELTS Diagram Paragraphs and Organisation
- IELTS Life Cycle Diagram: Execise & Model Answer
- IELTS Bar Chart: Vocabulary Exercise & Model Answer
- IELTS Line Graph: Vocabulary Exercise
- IELTS Diagrams: Grammar Exercise
- IELTS Line Graph: How to Describe Guidelines
- IELTS Line Graph: Vocabulary & Model Answer
- Task 1 Improving Line Graph Introduction Paragraph
- IELTS Map: Comparison Exercise
- IELTS Two Charts Practice: Pie Chart & Bar Chart
- IELTS Bar Chart: Exercise & Model Answer
- IELTS Diagram Water Supply: Model Answer
- IELTS Bar Chart: Introduction & Overview Practice
- IELTS Frog Diagram: Introduction & Overview Exercise & Model Answer
- Introduction Paragraph: Correcting Errors
- IELTS Bar Chart Sample Answer
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING (GT) Letter – WRITING TASK 1
For IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training, you will be asked to write a letter (not a report on a chart).
Read below for an overview:
- You have one hour in total for your whole writing test (both task 1 and task 2).
- IELTS recommend you spend no more than 20 mins on your writing task 1 letter.
- You can manage your own time in the writing test. The one hour is yours to use as you wish. If you want to do task 2 first, you can.
- The instructions say “Write at least 150 words”. This means you need to write over 150 words. On average, you should aim for your letter to be between 170 and 190 words. A shorter letter does not allow enough detail for a high score.
- GT letters have different aims, styles and tones, for example formal or informal. See the essential tips below for information.
- Writing Task 1 counts for about 33% of your writing marks.
- There are four marking criteria each worth 25%:
- Task Achievement / Coherence & Cohesion / Vocabulary / Grammar
- Task Achievement is about completing the letter and fulfilling the aims of the letter.
- Coherence & Cohesion is about the structure, organisation and linking methods of information in your letter.
IELTS GT Sample Practice Letters
Below is a link to a collection of practice letters which show the range of formal, informal and all the different aims of letters so that you can practise at home.
Sample Practice Letters for GT IELTS
IELTS GT Letter Essential Tips
The following links are for IELTS candidates who are preparing for the General Training Writing Test. Your task will be asked to write a letter. You will not be writing a report as in the Academic Test. Use the links below to help you prepare:
10 Essential Tips for IELTS Letter Writing
How to Improve your IELTS GT Letter
Differences between GT & Academic Writing
Using the bullet points properly
