IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic: format, structure and tips
In Academic Task 1 you summarise a visual (a graph, chart, table, diagram or map) in at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. It is worth less than Task 2, but it is also the more predictable task, so it is where well-prepared candidates pick up reliable marks.
Updated 2026-10-23
The format
| Academic Writing Task 1 | |
|---|---|
| Time | About 20 minutes (of the 60 minutes for Writing) |
| Length | At least 150 words |
| Input | One or more visuals: graph, chart, table, diagram or map |
| Task | Summarise the main features and make comparisons |
| Marked on | Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
The instruction for charts is always: Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. For process diagrams the words "make comparisons" are usually left out, because there is nothing to compare.
The six question types
Each guide below has a practice question, a band 9 model answer and the language that type needs.
| Type | What it tests | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| Line graph | Describing change over time | Line graph question |
| Bar chart | Comparing quantities | Bar chart question |
| Pie chart | Describing proportions and shares | Pie chart question |
| Table | Selecting the important numbers | Table question |
| Process diagram | Sequencing and the passive | Process question |
| Map | Location and change language | Map question |
Some questions combine two visuals; see the mixed charts question.
One structure for every type
- Introduction (1 sentence). Paraphrase the question: what the visual shows, where and when. Do not copy the question word for word.
- Overview (2 sentences). The main features, with no or very few numbers.
- Body paragraph 1. The first group of details, with figures.
- Body paragraph 2. The second group, compared with the first.
How you group details is the decision that matters most. Group lines that move the same way, bars that share a pattern, map areas, or the two halves of a process.
How to write the overview
Look at the visual and ask: if I could tell someone only two things about this, what would they be? Those two things are your overview.
| Visual | Weak overview | Strong overview |
|---|---|---|
| Line graph | "The graph shows water use in three countries." | "Water use fell in Australia, rose in Brazil and stayed flat in Japan, so the three countries ended at similar levels." |
| Process | "There are many stages." | "The process has eight stages, from harvesting the olives to delivering bottled oil to shops." |
| Map | "There are many changes." | "The village has become more residential, while the river and main road are unchanged." |
The weak versions just repeat the question. The strong versions tell the reader something they would only know by studying the visual.
A 20-minute plan
| Minutes | Do this |
|---|---|
| 0–3 | Read the question and the visual. Note units and time period. Find the 2–3 main features. Decide how to group the details. |
| 3–5 | Write the introduction and overview. |
| 5–16 | Write the two body paragraphs. Two or three figures per sentence at most. |
| 16–20 | Check numbers, units, tenses, articles and plurals. Count roughly: about 10 words a line × lines. |
What separates band 6 from band 8
| Band | Task Achievement looks like… |
|---|---|
| 6 | An overview is attempted, but details are sometimes listed rather than selected. Some figures may be irrelevant or wrong. |
| 7 | A clear overview of the main trends or stages. Key features are highlighted, though some could be more fully developed. |
| 8 | The overview is clear and well chosen. Key features are presented and illustrated skilfully, with figures selected for a reason. |
In practice, most candidates who move from 6 to 7 do it by writing a real overview and cutting the number of figures they report.
The language that comes up again and again
- Trends: rose steadily, fell sharply, levelled off, peaked at, fluctuated
- Comparison: twice as high as, slightly fewer than, the largest share, whereas
- Proportion: just over a third, roughly one in five, accounted for
- Sequence: first, following this, once…, after which, finally
- Location and change: to the north of, was replaced by, was converted into
Practise the other parts of the exam
Task 2 is worth more than Task 1. Start with the Task 2 guide, see the IELTS Academic requirements for the whole module, then take a free IELTS Reading test to see where your Academic reading level is. Graphs and tables appear in Reading passages too.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should I write for IELTS Writing Task 1?
At least 150. Most strong answers are between 160 and 200 words. Going well over 200 rarely helps, because it usually means you are listing details instead of selecting them.
What is an overview in IELTS Task 1?
One or two sentences that summarise the main features of the visual, such as the overall trends, the biggest and smallest items, or the main stages, usually without specific numbers. It is the single most important part of a Task 1 answer for the Task Achievement score.
Should I write a conclusion in Task 1?
You do not need a separate conclusion. The overview does that job, and it is best placed straight after the introduction so the examiner cannot miss it.
Is General Training Writing Task 1 the same?
No. General Training Task 1 is a letter, not a chart description. See the General Training letter guide for that task.