Table of Contents
- IELTS Academic writing task 1: An overview
- A walkthrough on IELTS Academic
- IELTS Academic writing task 1: Key highlights
- IELTS Academic writing task 1 samples
- IELTS writing score guide
- Tips to prepare for IELTS Academic writing task 1
- Frequently asked questions
The IELTS is a standard assessment for international students to assess their level of proficiency in the English language. It is a widely recognised exam across the world for the working population and students seeking higher education abroad. The exam is accepted as proof of English language proficiency in more than 11,000 educational institutions in countries like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and France. The IELTS exam contains four sections that evaluate the candidate's language skills. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of the IELTS Academic writing task 1.
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IELTS Academic writing task 1: An overview
| No. of tasks | 1 |
| Minimum word limit (in words) | 150 |
| Duration (in minutes) | 20 |
| Question format | Data interpretation task |
Data updated as of July 2023
A walkthrough on IELTS Academic
It is essential to learn about the IELTS pattern and syllabus before preparing for the tasks. The IELTS Academic exam is taken by international students planning to pursue higher education in an English-speaking country. The IELTS Academic pattern consists of four sections.
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
IELTS Academic writing pattern 2023
- No. of tasks: 2
- Total duration: 60 minutes
The IELTS exam pattern for academic writing consists of two tasks - a data interpretation and an interpretation essay. The tasks have a minimum word limit of 150 words; the candidate must complete them in 60 minutes.
IELTS Academic writing syllabus 2023
Remember that the IELTS exam syllabus for the writing section differs from the Academic and General Training versions. So start preparing for the tasks for the IELTS version you applied for.
| Task | Duration | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | 20 minutes | A data interpretation task where the candidate should write an essay relevant to the data provided. The question might request them to describe the data, a certain stage in the process, and others. |
| Task 2 | 40 minutes | An interpretation essay, in which the candidate is required to express their point of view or argument on a problem. You can add appropriate examples to support your idea or opinion. Keep the tone formal, and write the essay in an academic style. |
IELTS Academic writing task 1: Key highlights
- The IELTS Academic writing task 1 requires you to write an essay of at least 150 words on the task given.
- It is a data interpretation task where the question can be in a graph, data, or other visual formats.
- IELTS writing task 1 contributes 33% of the total writing section scores.
- The writing task determines your ability to organise, compare and present relevant information in the essay.
- You might also be required to describe a process, a sequence of events, or explain a procedure.
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IELTS Academic writing task 1: Grading criteria
- Task achievement (25%)
- Coherence and cohesion (25%)
- Lexical resource (25%)
- Grammatical range and accuracy (25%)
IELTS writing task 1 Academic topics
- Process diagrams
- Line graphs
- Pie charts
- Maps
- Bar charts
- Table graphs
- Multiple graphs
IELTS Academic writing task 1 samples
Ensure to get enough practice for the IELTS Academic writing task 1 to improve your writing skills and ace the exam. The task can request you to provide or elaborate on any information, so it depends on the candidate’s ability to create a response that satisfies the requirements of the grading criteria. Several IELTS Academic writing task 1 samples with answers are available for candidates to practice their writing skills.
IELTS Academic writing task 1 sample 1
The table below shows the percentage of adults in different age groups who participated in various leisure activities in a European country in 2022. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Leisure activities participation (%) by age group in a European country in 2022
| Age group | Watching TV | Reading books | Playing sports | Going to the theatre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-25 | 75 | 60 | 40 | 15 |
| 26-35 | 80 | 50 | 30 | 10 |
| 36-45 | 70 | 55 | 25 | 12 |
| 46-55 | 65 | 45 | 20 | 8 |
| 56 and above | 60 | 40 | 15 | 5 |
Sample 1 answer: The table illustrates the percentage of adults in different age groups participating in various leisure activities in a European country in 2022. The activities listed are watching TV, reading books, playing sports, and going to the theatre. Overall, it is noticeable that watching TV was the most popular leisure activity across all age groups while going to the theatre had the lowest participation rates. Additionally, participation in all activities tended to decline with increasing age. For the 26-35 age group, watching TV remained the most popular activity, with 80% of adults participating. Reading books and playing sports had participation rates of 50% and 30%, respectively, while going to the theatre had the lowest participation rate at 10%. In the 36-45 age group, watching TV remained the most preferred leisure activity, with 70% of adults participating. Reading books and playing sports had participation rates of 55% and 25%, respectively, while going to the theatre had a slightly higher participation rate of 12%. Among adults aged 46-55, watching TV had the highest participation rate at 65%, followed by reading books (45%) and playing sports (20%). Going to the theatre had the lowest participation rate in this age group, with only 8% of adults engaging in this activity. Finally, for adults aged 56 and above, watching TV was the most popular leisure activity, with 60% of adults participating. Reading books and playing sports had participation rates of 40% and 15%, respectively. Going to the theatre had the lowest participation rate at 5%. In conclusion, watching TV was the most prevalent leisure activity across all age groups in the European country in 2022. Additionally, participation in all activities decreased with increasing age, with the lowest participation rates observed in going to the theatre. |
IELTS Academic writing task 1 sample 2
The bar graph below shows the percentage of energy consumption from different sources in a country in 2018. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Sample 2 answer: The bar graph presents the percentage of energy consumption from different sources in a country in 2018. The sources mentioned are fossil fuels, renewable sources, nuclear power, and others, which include hydropower. In terms of residential energy consumption, fossil fuels accounted for the highest percentage at 45%. Renewable sources followed with a contribution of 35%, while nuclear power and others had lower shares of 15% and 5%, respectively. For industrial energy consumption, fossil fuels had the highest percentage at 55%, significantly higher than the other sources. Nuclear power contributed 30%, while renewable sources and others accounted for only 10% and 5%, respectively. In the commercial sector, fossil fuels were again the dominant energy source, with a consumption percentage of 40%. Renewable sources accounted for 20% of energy consumption, while nuclear power and others had equal 30% and 10% shares, respectively. Regarding energy consumption in transportation, fossil fuels had the highest share at 60%, indicating heavy reliance on this source for transportation needs. Renewable sources contributed a mere 5%, while nuclear power and others accounted for 25% and 10%, respectively. Overall, fossil fuels were the primary source of energy consumption across all sectors in the country in 2018. They had the highest shares in the industrial and transportation sectors while being significant in the residential and commercial sectors. Renewable sources had moderate to low shares; nuclear power and others had varied contributions across sectors. In conclusion, the country in 2018 heavily depended on fossil fuels for energy consumption in all sectors, particularly in the industrial and transportation sectors. Although there was some usage of renewable sources and nuclear power, their contributions were relatively lower. |
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IELTS Academic writing task 1 sample 3
The table below shows the number of visitors to a national park in three different months of 2022. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Number of visitors to a national park in 2022
| Month | Number of Visitors |
|---|---|
| January | 12,500 |
| April | 18,200 |
| July | 25,800 |
Sample 3 answer: The table presents the number of visitors to a national park in three different months of 2022. The months mentioned are January, April, and July. Overall, it is evident that the number of visitors progressively increased throughout the year, with the highest number recorded in July. In January, the national park received 12,500 visitors. This number saw a significant increase in April, with 18,200 visitors, representing an increase of approximately 46% compared to January. However, the highest number of visitors was recorded in July, with a significant jump to 25,800 visitors, indicating an increase of around 42% compared to April. The difference in visitor numbers between January and July is striking, with July having more than double the number of visitors compared to January. Similarly, July recorded an approximately 42% increase in visitor numbers compared to April. In conclusion, the number of visitors to the national park steadily increased throughout the year 2022. January had the lowest number of visitors, while April witnessed a considerable increase. However, the highest number of visitors was recorded in July, making it the peak month for visitation to the national park. |
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IELTS writing score guide
| IELTS band score | Description |
|---|---|
| 9 | Expert user |
| 8 | Very good user |
| 7 | Good user |
| 6 | Competent user |
| 5 | Modest user |
| 4 | Limited user |
| 3 | Extremely limited user |
| 2 | Intermittent user |
| 1 | Non-user |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test |
Data updated as of July 2023
Tips to prepare for IELTS Academic writing task 1
Candidates often find the IELTS writing section difficult, but regular practice and improving their language skills can help them ace the test. Here are some vital tips on how to prepare for the IELTS exam.
- Learn about the exam format and understand the grading criteria. This helps you to have a better knowledge of the exam and simplifies your preparation.
- Prepare a study schedule to plan things ahead and save time. The schedule will also help you keep a clear track of your progress during preparation.
- Develop your vocabulary by reading books, magazines, and newspapers.
- Improve your grammar by studying sentence structure, vocabulary, and punctuation in different reading materials. Ensure you understand the grammar rules you need to know for IELTS for better scoring.
- Make use of online tests and practice materials. There are several IELTS Academic writing task 1 samples that would improve your language skills and increase your writing pace.
- Ensure to practise writing every day. Develop frameworks to write the letter in a structured format. It is also important to analyse your mistakes and work on them.
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Frequently asked questions
What is IELTS Academic writing task 1?
The IELTS Academic writing task 1 determines your ability to organise, compare and present relevant information in the essay. The task requires you to write an essay of at least 150 words on the task given. It is a data interpretation task where the question can be in the form of a graph, data, or other visual formats.
How to write IELTS Academic writing task 1?
Here are some of the best tips to practice for IELTS Academic writing task 1.
- Understand the exam format and grading criteria.
- Make a study schedule to plan your preparation ahead and save time.
- Develop your vocabulary by reading books, magazines, and newspapers.
- Improve your grammar by studying the sentence structure, vocabulary, and punctuation used in reading materials.
- Make use of online tests and practice materials.
- Ensure to practise writing every day.
What are the topics in the Academic type of IELTS writing task 1?
- Process diagrams
- Line graphs
- Pie charts
- Maps
- Bar charts
- Table graphs
- Multiple graphs
Is IELTS Academic writing task 1 formal or informal?
The IELTS Academic writing task 1 should be written in a formal tone. Candidates should ensure to follow the formal tone and structure while working on the Academic writing tasks.
What is most common for IELTS writing task 1?
Some of the most common topics to expect for the IELTS Academic writing task 1 are line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts.
