IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic: How to Describe Graphs, Tables and Processes

In Academic Writing Task 1 you need to describe visual information: a line or bar chart, pie chart, table, process or map. At least 150 words, about 20 minutes. Task 1 is worth half as much as Task 2, but a weak Task 1 can still cost you half a band in your Overall band score for Writing.

Structure

1. Introduction (1 sentence). What is shown, where and over what period. In your own words, not a copy of the task.
2. Overview (1–2 sentences). Main features without figures: the overall trend, the leader and the lowest category, the most noticeable change.
3. Details, paragraph 1. First group of data with figures and comparisons.
4. Details, paragraph 2. Second group of data.

Overview — The Most Important Part

Without an overview you cannot get a high band for Task Achievement. The overview answers the question: "What would a person see if they looked at the chart for three seconds?"

Example: Overall, the car remained the most common way of commuting in both years, although its share fell considerably, while cycling and rail travel became noticeably more popular.

Grouping Instead of Listing

A weak answer describes each column in order. A strong answer divides the data into two groups by a common feature: what increased and what decreased; large and small figures; the first and second period. Each group becomes a paragraph.

Language for Trends and Comparisons

• Verbs: rise, climb, increase, surge, fall, decline, drop, dip, level off, remain stable, fluctuate, peak.
• Degree: slightly, marginally, moderately, considerably, substantially, dramatically. Use precisely: a rise from 20% to 21% is slightly.
• Comparisons: twice as high as, roughly a third of, the second largest, overtook, outnumbered.
• Approximation: just under a quarter, well over half, nearly, approximately.
• Percentages: the difference between 30% and 40% is 10 percentage points, not 10 percent.

Vary your structures: Car use fell sharply and There was a sharp fall in car use.

Tenses

The tense depends on the period shown. Past years — Past Simple. Changes up to a point in the past — Past Perfect (by 2020 the figure had doubled). Forecasts — is expected to, is projected to, will.

Processes

Overview: how many stages, where it starts and ends, whether it is a natural or manufacturing process. In the details — passive voice and sequencing linkers: First, the raw materials are collected. Once they have been sorted, they are...

Maps

Overview: main changes (new buildings, disappearance of green areas, new infrastructure). In the details — passive voice and language of place: The farmland to the east of the river was replaced by housing. A car park was built next to the station.

Common Mistakes

• no overview or overview with only figures;
• describing every figure without grouping;
• giving opinions or reasons for changes;
• copying the wording of the task in the introduction;
• incorrect tenses;
• percent instead of percentage points.

What Next

See a model answer at band 8–9 with analysis, more on processes and maps, and a practice plan — in the Writing guide. You can practise in exam conditions with a mock test.