Welcome to the Active IELTS page for Academic Writing Task 1
In Academic Writing Task 1 you are asked to describe the facts and numbers in a diagram. This diagram can be:
You may have to describe several different things, e.g. two tables or a graph and a table. You need to choose the most
important information and leave some details out. You need to write at least 150 words and you should do this in 20 minutes.
A question will look like this:
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The following pie chart shows which kinds of films are most popular amongst British teenagers.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
Write at least 150 words.
Here is another example with a different kind of diagram - a line graph
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The following pie chart shows the average number of people owning mobile phones in Town A
over a seven year period. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
Write at least 150 words.
In the exam
Remember that you need to find the most important information and talk about that. Take 2 minutes at the start of the test to
look carefully at the information and plan your answer. Decide what is important and what is not.
As you read the question, notice the words you must include from the diagram. This may be things like years, numbers, dates
and names. Make sure you use them. Saying "There are lots in one year' will not get you a good mark.
Look at the instructions. They tell you to 'describe the information below'. That is all you need to do, so do not add anything
extra to your answer until you have finished describing and written 150 words.
If you finish describing the information and have time, you can then add a sentence with your opinion about the information or
something extra - but only when you have finished the task.
Be careful! If you use the same words as the question to start your answer, for example by saying 'The following pie chart shows
which kinds of films are most popular amongst British teenagers' then these words will not be included in the final total. Change
the words if you use them.
Don't worry too much about paragraphs but remember that they can make your answer clearer and easier to read. The
examiner will like it if you use them.
When you are describing information, don't make lists. Find different ways to say things. And try not to repeat the same
structure, e.g. 'In 1997 there were 10, in 1998 there were 12, in 1999 there were 14...'
Remember that you can use the present simple to describe information, even if it is about the past. For example, you can say 'In
1981 there is a sharp increase and then sales fall in 1982'. The important thing is to not suddenly change the tense you are using
halfway through your answer.
When you have written for 20 minutes, stop. Task 2 is more important and you need 40 minutes to answer it.
Ready to practise? Here are some example questions
In Academic Writing Task 1 you are asked to describe the facts and numbers in a diagram. This diagram can be:
- a chart
- a graph
- a table
- a picture of something, e.g. how a machine works or a process
- a map
You may have to describe several different things, e.g. two tables or a graph and a table. You need to choose the most
important information and leave some details out. You need to write at least 150 words and you should do this in 20 minutes.
A question will look like this:
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The following pie chart shows which kinds of films are most popular amongst British teenagers.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
Write at least 150 words.
Here is another example with a different kind of diagram - a line graph
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The following pie chart shows the average number of people owning mobile phones in Town A
over a seven year period. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
Write at least 150 words.
In the exam
Remember that you need to find the most important information and talk about that. Take 2 minutes at the start of the test to
look carefully at the information and plan your answer. Decide what is important and what is not.
As you read the question, notice the words you must include from the diagram. This may be things like years, numbers, dates
and names. Make sure you use them. Saying "There are lots in one year' will not get you a good mark.
Look at the instructions. They tell you to 'describe the information below'. That is all you need to do, so do not add anything
extra to your answer until you have finished describing and written 150 words.
If you finish describing the information and have time, you can then add a sentence with your opinion about the information or
something extra - but only when you have finished the task.
Be careful! If you use the same words as the question to start your answer, for example by saying 'The following pie chart shows
which kinds of films are most popular amongst British teenagers' then these words will not be included in the final total. Change
the words if you use them.
Don't worry too much about paragraphs but remember that they can make your answer clearer and easier to read. The
examiner will like it if you use them.
When you are describing information, don't make lists. Find different ways to say things. And try not to repeat the same
structure, e.g. 'In 1997 there were 10, in 1998 there were 12, in 1999 there were 14...'
Remember that you can use the present simple to describe information, even if it is about the past. For example, you can say 'In
1981 there is a sharp increase and then sales fall in 1982'. The important thing is to not suddenly change the tense you are using
halfway through your answer.
When you have written for 20 minutes, stop. Task 2 is more important and you need 40 minutes to answer it.
Ready to practise? Here are some example questions
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Other useful pages
How is the IELTS writing test marked?
Links and tips to help you
What does my score mean?
What if I am not happy with my score?
On the day of the exam
How is the IELTS writing test marked?
Links and tips to help you
What does my score mean?
What if I am not happy with my score?
On the day of the exam