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Are you preparing for the IELTS Academic Writing task 1 and feeling stressed? We have got you covered! This blog will give you all the information you need to do well on this task. In IELTS Writing task 1, you have to explain and study visual information like graphs, charts, tables, or diagrams.

We will explore and show you how to answer the questions step by step and help you understand what you need to do, and how to organise your and use the right words for your IELTS Writing task 1 answer. You can consider practicing these IELTS Writing task 1 sample answers in your preparation.

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Format of the IELTS Academic Writing task

There are two parts to the IELTS Academic Writing task. Responses to Task 1 and Task 2 should be written in an academic, semi-formal, or neutral style.

Task 1: You are presented with a graph, table, chart, or diagram and are asked to summarise and report the information in your own words. You may be asked to select and compare data, describe the stages of a process, and describe an object or how something works.

Task 2: You are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.

Note: The issues raised in the test are of general interest to, suitable for, and easily understood by test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.

IELTS Writing task 1 sample questions with answers (IELTS Academic)

Here are different questions with answers that you might get in your IELTS Writing task 1, consider practicing these questions to score high in your IELTS Academic Writing task 1.

Sample of line graph task question with answer

You can refer to this line graph sample question with answers to get familiar with it. Practice similar questions to achieve a high score on your IELTS test:

band 7

Examiner comment for band 7

The answer deals well with both the individual media trends and the overall comparison of these trends. The opening could be more fully developed with the inclusion of information relating to the groups studied and the period of time during which the study took place. There is a good variety of cohesive devices and the message can be followed quite easily although the expression is sometimes a little clumsy. Structures are complex and vocabulary is varied but there are errors in word forms, tense, and voice though these do not impede communication.

Read more: IELTS line graph

Sample of IELTS bar chart task question with answer

Here is an IELTS bar chart sample question with answers for your reference:

band 6

Examiner comment for band 6

The candidate has made a good attempt to describe the graphs looking at global trends and more detailed figures. There is, however, some inaccurate information given when extending the main points and this impacts task achievement (when referring to the decline or increase in the proportion of male students). The answer flows quite smoothly although connectives are overused or inappropriate, and some of the points do not link up well. The language used to describe the trends is generally appropriate and the grammatical structures show some flexibility.

Read more: IELTS model bar chart

Sample of IELTS pie chart task question with answer

Here is an IELTS pie chart task 1 sample question with answers for your reference:

uk news content

Sample answer:

The pie chart shows how people in the UK accessed international news in 2019. TV was the most popular choice, with 43% of people using it. Word of mouth and radio were the least popular options, chosen by only 1% and 4% of people respectively. Printed newspapers were used by 8% of people, showing some interest but not as much as TV. Social media and other internet sources were used by a combined 29% of people, with social media being slightly more popular at 14% and other internet sources at 15%. This means that a lot of people in the UK turned to the internet, including social media, to get their international news. Overall, TV was the top choice, while traditional methods like radio and word of mouth were less popular, and the internet played a big role in providing news.

Read more: IELTS model pie chart

Sample of IELTS diagram task question with answer

Here is an IELTS diagram task sample question with answers for your reference:

band 7 question

Examiner comment for band 7

This test taker uses an inappropriate format at times (e.g. the letter-style opening and personal comments) and this limits the band for Task Achievement. The process itself is adequately described, although some irrelevant information is included and there is no clear overview. Information is logically organised and there is a clear progression throughout the response. A range of cohesive devices is used appropriately, although there are occasional errors in referencing and linking, and paragraphing would have helped convey a clearer description of the stages. A wide range of sophisticated lexis is used to convey meaning with precision, but there are also occasional flaws in word choice that lead to some slightly awkward expressions. A wide range of structures is also used fluently with only occasional slight errors and the majority of sentences are error-free. In spite of the high level of language proficiency, the flaws in format and organisation limit the rating for this response to Band 7.

Marking criteria for IELTS Academic Writing task 1

To understand how your performance is assessed in the IELTS Task 1 of the Writing section, it's essential to know everything about the marking criteria used by examiners. The following are the key areas that examiners focus on when evaluating your response:

1. Task Achievement (TA)

  • Have you provided a clear and accurate overview of the visual information?

  • Did you accurately describe the key features, trends, and comparisons presented in the data?

  • Have you addressed all aspects of the task and covered the required content?

2. Coherence and Cohesion (CC)

  • Is your essay well-organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion?

  • Have you used appropriate paragraphing to separate ideas logically?

  • Is there a clear progression of ideas and a smooth flow of information between sentences and paragraphs?

3. Lexical Resource (LR)

  • Have you used a wide range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately?

  • Have you demonstrated the ability to paraphrase and use synonyms effectively?

  • Is there evidence of using domain-specific vocabulary related to the given visual information?

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

  • Have you displayed a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences?

  • Is your grammar usage accurate, with minimal errors?

  • Have you demonstrated control over verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, sentence structure, and punctuation?

Hope these IELTS Writing task 1 sample answer (Academic) helps you understand how you can approach your answers for a higher band score in your IELTS Academic Writing task 1. If you want to know more about the IELTS test, you can get in touch with your nearest IDP IELTS test centre. Our IELTS experts will guide you with your queries.

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