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Task 1 
IELTS
 Writing 
Academic Training Module by Adam Smith
First Published in 2015 
IELTS
JOURNAL 
 
Target 
Band 
7
+
IELTS 
JOURNAL 

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IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
2 
 
Contents 
About 
the 
Writing 
Test 
4
 
How to use your 20 minutes
 
 
 
4
 
Points to Apply in Task 1, Report Writing
 
5
 
What does a good report look like?
 
 
6
 
Using the right tense is important 
 
 
 
6
 
Different types of visuals 
 
 
 
 
7
 
Describing trends, Language of change 
 
 
8
 
Connecting 
trends 
10
 
Using 
the 
right 
prepositions 
12
 
Describing numbers, percentages & fractions 
 
16
 
Describing 
Quantities 
17
 
Varying your language
 
 
 
 
18
 
Using 
Simple 
Comparisons 
19
 
The language for comparing 
 
 
 
 
20
 
Other Important Language for Comparisons 
 
21
 
Adding 
an 
explanation 
22
 
Writing 
an 
introduction 
 
23
 
Writing the General Overview Paragraph
 
26
 
Selecting 
Main 
Points 
27
 
Writing an 'overview' not a conclusion 
 
 
29
 
Writing 
Body 
Paragraphs
30
 
Writing just six sentences to include the details
31
 
Selecting details and grouping them
 
 
33
 
Including 
approximation 
35
 

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IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
3 
 
Having a Task 1 checklist is important 
 
 
36
 
Avoid common mistakes
 
 
 
 
36
 
Describing more than one chart 
 
 
 
37
 
Describing 
Processes 
39
 
Describing 
a 
map 
42
 
Effective ways to prepare for Task 1
 
 
46
 
Good Sample Answers Worth Reading 
 
 
47
 
Keep 
in 
touch! 
104
 
 
 
Use this book together with the 
instagram
 page 
@ieltsjournal
 
The 
instagram
page contains lessons that show how to use the ideas from this 
book. You can keep in touch with the author there and ask your questions.
 

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IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
4 
Academic Training Writing 
About the Writing Test 
The IELTS Academic Training Writing Test takes 60 minutes. You have to complete two 
writing tasks. 
Task 1 
You have about 20 minutes 
You must write a report of at least 150 words 
You are given a visual presentation which can be in form of a graph, diagram, bar 
chart, table, map or a process. You must write a report explaining the main features 
of the figure and make comparisons where relevant. You must not include any 
personal opinion while you are explaining the figure. You just need to describe and 
report what you are given.
How to use your 20 minutes 
You have 20 minutes for task 1, so try spending 5 minutes on each paragraph. This might 
help you to organise your time better. 
First 5 minutes 
Read the question, make sure you understand the chart, write your 
introduction by paraphrasing the question. 
Second 5 minutes
 
Look at the chart and try to find 2 general points. Don't look at specific details; 
look for "the big picture". Write 2 sentences summarising the information. 
Final 10 minutes 
Describe specific details. Try to break this part into 2 paragraphs because it 
looks better. You could spend 5 minutes on each paragraph. 
 

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IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
5 
Points to Apply in Task 1, Report Writing 
The IELTS writing Task 1 academic is an information transfer task which requires you to 
write a fairly precise account of some information presented in graphic form such as a 
graph, table or some form of pictorial representation of data. In order to complete the task 
successfully, follow these suggestions. 
Introduction should describe the purpose of the report and say what the overall trends are. 
For example, if the graph is climbing up or dropping down, you should mention the change 
or the changes accurately and meaningfully. You need to remember that you are describing 
a graph to someone who does not see it, so your words must draw the picture. Write what 
the graph is about, its dates and location as well as the right kind of measurements used. 
You must write in complete sentences. Notes are not acceptable. 
Do not copy whole sentences or long phrases from the question. The examiner will 
recognize them, and they will not count towards the minimum number of words you must 
write. 
The overall trend or the general over view should sum up the global or the general trends 
shown in the figure and compare them if possible. Your personal opinion should not appear 
anywhere in the report. You should not include other information that does not appear in 
the figure or the chart since this kind of writing can and will probably be penalized. 
The body paragraphs should describe the most important features and trends, while all the 
information is summarized to avoid unnecessary details. When you are given too much 
information, you need to group them and select the most noticeable ones. For example, if 
there is a graph that has 2 peaks, you should mention them and tell when those peaks 
appeared and what the peak values are; however, if there are 5 similar trends, you need to 
group the information in order to avoid over length writing, which can lead to a waste of 
time. 
Notice how many distinctive features the diagram or the graph has and divide them into 
paragraphs, one paragraph one set of features that is a group of similar trends. You should 
also link the paragraphs by sentences that logically connect them to one another. 
You need to write about all the periods of time and all the subjects of the graph or the 
figure. If it shows several years for example 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, write about all of 
them. If it is about men and women, write about both genders. Remember that 
summarizing does not mean throwing away information. The key here is to select what is 
important, organize it and make comparisons, which is describing both the similarities and 
the differences where relevant. 
You may write your plans on the question sheet if, for example, you want to underline key 
words or to write notes and make comparisons. The examiner who marks your writing will 
not see the question sheet. 

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