TRENDS
Line graphs
Show change over time. Lead with the overall direction, then the biggest rises, falls and crossovers.
Line Graph Masterclass →FREE WRITING TASK 1 CLASS
Describe data.
Don’t just list it.
Learn a repeatable six-step approach to IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 using an original example.
READ → SELECT → GROUP → PLAN → WRITE → CHECK
Your six-step Task 1 method
Use the question and data first. The task is to report the main features clearly and make relevant comparisons.
01
Read
Identify what is measured, the unit, and the time period.
02
Select
Find the highest, lowest and most noticeable movements.
03
Group
Put similar information together; avoid one sentence per data point.
04
Plan
Use an introduction, overview and two detail paragraphs.
05
Write
Compare accurately with a range of controlled language.
06
Check
Check figures, units, tense and word count (at least 150 words).
ORIGINAL PRACTICE EXAMPLE
Annual visitors to three city museums
The chart shows invented annual visitor numbers (thousands) at three museums from 2021 to 2024. The dataset is original practice material, not an actual IELTS test.
Visitors (thousands)Source: illustrative IELTS4US data
Maritime MuseumArt MuseumScience Museum
Example overview: Overall, visitor numbers rose at all three museums, although the Art Museum remained the most popular throughout the period. The Science Museum experienced the fastest relative growth.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Try it before writing
Your free practice task
Write a 150–180 word response using an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. Compare the first and final years and use at least four accurate figures. Self-check: did you identify the main trend without copying every number?
NEW · FREE FULL LESSON
Study pie charts free ↗How to write a Pie Chart report
Learn SPOT planning, see two original 2010/2025 pie charts, study a complete four-paragraph model, practise percentage-point comparisons and check five questions instantly.
TASK 1 AT A GLANCE
What Academic Task 1 asks you to do
You describe visual information in a short, objective report. You do not give opinions or explain causes; you select the key features and compare them.
| Time | About 20 minutes (the Writing test is 60 minutes for both tasks) |
|---|---|
| Length | At least 150 words; 170–190 is a comfortable target |
| Structure | Introduction (paraphrase), overview of the main features, two detail paragraphs |
| Weighting | Task 2 carries more weight, so do not spend more than about 20 minutes here |
| Marked on | Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
THE SEVEN TASK 1 TYPES
Know what to look for in each one.
Every IELTS4US Task 1 Masterclass is built around one of these types. Each needs a slightly different plan.
COMPARE
Bar charts
Compare categories, sometimes over time. Group bars with similar values instead of describing each one.
Bar Chart Masterclass →FREE LESSON
Pie charts
Show proportions of a whole. Compare the largest and smallest shares and how they changed.
Free pie chart lesson →COMPARE
Tables
Dense with numbers. Find the highest, lowest and any exceptions before you write a single sentence.
Table Masterclass →SEQUENCE
Process diagrams
Describe stages in order. Count the stages, note the start and end points, and use the passive voice.
Process Masterclass →CHANGE
Maps
Compare a place at two points in time. Organise by area or by type of change, not by random features.
Maps Masterclass →COMBINE
Mixed charts
Two visuals together. Your overview should connect them, and each body paragraph can focus on one visual.
Mixed Charts Masterclass →AVOID THESE
Six common Task 1 mistakes
01
No overview
Without a clear summary of the main features, it is very hard to score well for Task Achievement.
02
Listing every number
Select and compare. Five well-chosen figures beat twenty copied ones.
03
Giving reasons or opinions
Report what the data shows. Explaining why something happened is not part of the task.
04
Copying the question
Paraphrase the prompt in your introduction; copied words do not count towards your total.
05
Mixing tenses
Past dates need past tenses; projections need future forms such as "is expected to".
06
Running out of time
Stop at about 20 minutes. The extra marks are in Task 2.
QUESTIONS STUDENTS ASK
Task 1 FAQs
Do I need a conclusion in Task 1?
You need an overview: two or three sentences that summarise the main features. It can come after the introduction or at the end. A conclusion that only repeats details is not a substitute.
Is it a problem to write more than 150 words?
No, there is no maximum. But a longer report is not automatically better, and time spent here is time taken from Task 2.
Should I include every figure?
No. Choose the figures that support your comparisons, such as the highest, lowest, biggest change and any exceptions.
Which tense should I use?
Follow the dates. Use past tenses for past years, present tenses for diagrams with no date (such as most processes), and future forms for projections.
Is General Training Task 1 the same?
No. General Training Task 1 is a letter. The lessons on this page are for IELTS Academic.
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