IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to describe the information shown in a graph, chart or table in your own words. Many candidates go wrong here, because Task 1 is a report — not an opinion piece. Below we cover the structure, a model paragraph and the most useful language for describing data.
Types of visuals in Task 1
The exam gives you one of the following visuals (or a combination of several):
- Line graph — shows change over time
- Bar chart — compares categories
- Pie chart — shows percentages/proportions
- Table — exact figures
- Process diagram — a sequence of stages
- Map — how a place changes over time, or a comparison of two places
Line and bar graphs are the most common. Process diagrams and maps appear less often, but you should be prepared for them too.
Structure: the overview is compulsory
A good report has 4 paragraphs. The overview is the single most important part — without it a high band is impossible, because the Task Achievement criterion demands it.
- Introduction — rewrite the question sentence in other words (paraphrase).
- Overview — the 1–2 biggest trends or the highest/lowest figures. Do not quote specific numbers here — just the big picture.
- Body 1 — one group of the key data + numbers.
- Body 2 — the remaining data + numbers.
Tip: Start your overview with "Overall, ...". Write this paragraph first in the exam — even if you run out of time, the marks that matter most are already secured.
How to select the key trends
You do not need to mention every number on the graph — that's a mistake. Choose:
- The highest and lowest figures (highest / lowest)
- The biggest rise or fall (the biggest change)
- Start and end points (start vs end)
- Groups that behave similarly or contrast sharply
Don't list every minor data point one by one. Grouping the information is the key to a high band.
Useful language
Learn both the verb and the noun forms for describing change:
Increase:
- rise / increase / grow / climb → "Sales rose sharply."
- noun form: a rise / an increase → "There was a sharp rise in sales."
Decrease:
- fall / decrease / decline / drop → "Profits fell gradually."
Stability:
- remain stable / stay constant / level off / plateau → "Prices remained stable at $20."
Adverbs of degree:
- sharply, dramatically — sudden change
- gradually, steadily — slow change
- slightly — small change
Note: pair verbs with adverbs and nouns with adjectives: increased sharply (adverb) ↔ a sharp increase (adjective).
Model paragraph
Imagine a line graph showing the population of two cities between 2000 and 2020. Here is a sample overview and body:
Overview: Overall, the population of both cities increased over the period, with City A consistently higher than City B.
Body: In 2000, City A had a population of around 2 million, while City B stood at just 1.2 million. Over the next two decades, City A rose steadily to reach 3.5 million by 2020. City B also grew, but more gradually, climbing to 1.8 million.
Notice: no numbers in the overview, but exact figures in the body. That is the correct structure.
150+ words and time management
Task 1 requires at least 150 words. Write less than the minimum and your score drops. But there's no need to go beyond 180–200 words either — quality matters more than length.
- Allow about 20 minutes for Task 1 (and 40 minutes for Task 2).
- Don't count words one by one — estimate.
- Write the report in the past tense (if the graph shows a past period).
Tip: Don't give your opinion ("I think this is good") — Task 1 only describes the data. Personal conclusions belong in Task 2.
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