IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Question Types
IELTS Academic Writing task 1 is for 60 minutes. It is conducted to assess your English writing skills. It consists of 2 sections, Writing task 1 and Writing task 2.
Writing task 1 requires you to write at least 150 words, and Writing task 2 requires you to write at least 250 words.
IELTS Academic Writing checks your ability to select and write a report on data or factual information given in the form of the bar graph, pie chart, line graph, table, chart, or process.
Marking criteria:
Task Achievement (25%)
Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
Lexical Resources (25%)
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)
There are 6 types of questions you might get in the IELTS Academic Writing task 1.
Note: The examples mentioned below are taken from the IELTSMaterial eBooks.
- Bar Chart
In this type of question, you will be given information in the form of rectangular bars with heights or lengths proportional to the value that they represent. One axis of the chart will show the specific categories being compared, and another axis will represent the measured value. You will be asked to write, describe and compare the information conveyed in the bar graph in at least 150 words.
Example:
A bar chart shows the proportion of renewable energy in the total energy of three periods in four countries.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
2. Line Graph
In this kind of question, you will be asked to describe the change in values over time. Information will be presented through one or more lines. Sometimes, the number of lines may be more than two. You have to describe and compare the lines with each other in less than 150 words.
Example:
The line graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
3. Pie Chart
In this question, you will be given the information in a circular form, with each piece of information divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportions. Each portion in a pie chart will represent a data item. You will be asked to analyze and compare the information in more than 150 words.
Example:
The pie charts below show units of electricity production by fuel source in Australia and France in 1980 and 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
4. Table
In this type of question, you will be required to read the table’s information and analyze the same. The information will be presented in the form of rows and columns. You will be given one or more than one table to analyze and compare the table’s statistics and write at least 150 words.
Example:
The table below shows the result of surveys in 2005, 2010, and 2015 about McGill University.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
5. Map
In this kind of question, you may be given a map or maps reflecting the change in timelines. Some of them will generally be labelled for you. You will be asked to summarise the information from the given details and make the comparisons where relevant. You are expected to write more than 150 words.
Example:
The civic centre will be planned to change. There are two maps: one is the existing and the other is the plan for new.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and compare the two maps.
6. Process
In process questions, you will be given a diagram with all the steps or phases displayed using arrows. You will be expected to summarise the process in a step-by-step manner without missing any detail in not more than 150 words. It could include the process information like manufacturing.
Example:
The chart clearly depicts a 7-step process for producing olive oil. This sequence of production starts from handpicking and eventually ends in sale or storage.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
