IELTS Writing

Day 12 - Topic 1

Writing IELTS Test Overview (Task 1)

Learn the Writing Task 1 format, scoring criteria, general structure, and strategy.

Writing Test Overview

Introduction for Task 1

Task 1 requires you to report the data which can be shown in a form of table, chart, pie, line, map, flowchart or mixed data. In Task 1, you have to:

  1. Select the main features
  2. Report the main features
  3. Make comparisons were relevant
  4. Write at least 150 words at least 160-165 words

How to answer Task 1?

  1. Spend 20 minutes on Task 1
  2. Tips: do the Task 1 after you finish Task 2
  3. The score of Task 1 is one-third of the whole writing task

Test Format

1. Trend Task

Trend Task samples

2. Comparison Task

Comparison Task samples

3. Process and Cycle Diagram natural process

Process and Cycle Diagram natural process

4. Map Task

Comparison Map
Development Map

5. Mixed Task

Mixed Task Sample 2
Mixed Task Sample 1

How is the test marked?

There are 4 key assessment criteria in Writing Task 1: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Task Achievement:

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Have you summarized the information appropriately by selecting and properly reporting the main features?
  2. Have you made comparisons properly and sufficiently?
  3. Have you provided overviews of the main trends/comparisons/stages?
  4. Have you written a clear overview or summary for the report?

Coherence and Cohesion

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Have you organized your information logically?
  2. Is there an overall flow or progression in your report?
  3. Have you used linker correctly, properly and sufficiently?
  4. Have pronouns been used correctly and do they have clear references?
  5. Have you organized the text in paragraphs logically and sufficiently

Lexical Resource

  1. Words
    1. Range and flexibility
    2. Level
    3. Precision
    4. Style
    5. Collocation
  2. Vocabulary mistakes
    1. Spelling
    2. Word choice
    3. Word formation

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

  1. Have you used a variety of sentence structures?
  2. How often have you used compound structures?
  3. Mistakes
    1. Grammar
    2. Punctuation

General Structure

  1. Introduction: Paraphrasing the rubric.
  2. Overview: Summarizing the main trends or the most remarkable features
  3. Main Feature 1: Describing the first main feature
  4. Main Feature 2: Describing the second main feature

General Strategy

Before you writeWhile you writeAfter you write
  1. Observe the image, title, and rubric of the task to understand what information you look at.
  2. Study the main point of the chart.
  3. Pay attention to information about the chart.
  4. Organise information groups. Try to see connections or relationships between information.
  5. Identify the overview.
  1. Start with an introduction sentence by paraphrasing the rubric.
  2. Write the overview by selecting main features.
  3. Use connectors to show the relationships between ideas.
  4. Make sure that you write at least 150 words.

Recheck your work. Make sure:

  • You use various vocabulary
  • You use various structure
  • You have paraphrased the rubric into introduction
  • You have pointed out the feature in your overview
  • You didn't misspell anything
  • You didn't use wrong tenses
  • Your words have reached 150 words

General Key Tips

  1. DON'T add your opinion. Also, never explain why things happen. Just describe what you see.
  2. No contractions
  3. No "I" or "you"
  4. Always paraphrase where possible
  5. DON'T include any personal opinions
  6. DON'T try to include everything
  7. Writing an overview is a must
  8. Be careful of verb tenses
  9. Try to write 4 paragraphs
  10. . Don't write too long!