IELTS Writing Task 1: Structure, Samples and Tips

IELTS Writing Task 1 asks you to do one of two things depending on your test: in the Academic module you describe a chart, graph, table, map or process in at least 150 words; in General Training you write a letter of at least 150 words. You get about 20 minutes, and Task 1 is worth one-third of your total Writing band. For Indian test-takers the fixes are usually the same few things: choose the right verb tense, group the data instead of listing every number, and never add your personal opinion in the Academic task. This guide gives you the structure, the marking criteria, fill-in templates for every question type, model answers, and the mistakes that quietly cost Indian candidates half a band.

What IELTS Writing Task 1 is

IELTS Writing Task 1 is the first of two writing tasks, it must be at least 150 words, you should spend about 20 minutes on it, and it carries one-third of your Writing marks. Task 2, the essay, carries the other two-thirds, so Task 1 matters but should not eat your time.

What you actually do depends on your module. Academic candidates describe visual information, a graph, chart, table, map or process. General Training candidates write a letter responding to a everyday situation.

The examiner is not testing whether you can invent ideas. In Academic Task 1 you report only what the visual shows. Adding opinions, reasons or predictions that are not in the data is one of the fastest ways to lose marks, and it is a mistake we see often with Indian test-takers who treat it like an essay.

Academic vs General Training Task 1

The core difference is simple: Academic Task 1 is data description, General Training Task 1 is a letter. The word count (150), the time (20 minutes) and the one-third weighting are the same for both. What changes is the input, the tone and what you are allowed to include.

Not sure which module you sit? Most people who need it for university abroad take Academic, and most who need it for migration or work take General Training. Confirm your target requirement, then read our IELTS exam pattern guide to see how the whole test fits together.

Academic Task 1 question types

Academic Task 1 uses seven recurring formats: line graph, bar chart, pie chart, table, process diagram, map, and a mixed or combination question. Each needs a slightly different approach, though the four-paragraph structure stays the same.

Tense clues by type

• Line graph or bar chart with past dates: use past simple (rose, fell).
• Line graph projecting into the future: use will or is expected to.
• Static data with no dates (some pie charts, tables): use present simple.
• Process diagram: use present simple passive (is heated, are collected).
• Map showing before and after: past simple and present perfect for the changes.

General Training letter types

General Training Task 1 gives you one of three letter styles: formal, semi-formal or informal. The prompt tells you who you are writing to, and that tells you the tone. Getting the tone wrong, for example writing to a company manager as if he were a friend, damages your Task Achievement score directly.

How to spot the tone fast

• “Write to the manager of a company” and no name given: formal.
• “Write to your landlord” or a named person you deal with: semi-formal.
• “Write to a friend” or a family member: informal.
• When unsure, lean slightly more formal; it is safer than being too casual.

The marking criteria and band 5 to 9

Task 1 is scored on four equally weighted criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Your Task 1 band is the average of the four, and it is then combined with Task 2 (which counts double) for your final Writing score.

Band 5 to 9 at a glance

Notice that a missing overview caps most people at band 5 for Task Achievement, no matter how good the English is. Learn what your realistic score means in our IELTS band score guide.

Step-by-step structure and strategy

Use a four-paragraph structure for Academic Task 1: paraphrased introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs. There is no conclusion in Academic Task 1, the overview does that job. Letters follow a purpose-plus-bullet-points structure instead.

Academic Task 1: four steps

• Introduction: paraphrase the question. Change the words but keep the meaning. One or two sentences.
• Overview: state the two or three biggest trends or features. No numbers here. Start with “Overall,”.
• Body paragraph 1: group related data and give specific figures.
• Body paragraph 2: the remaining data, again with figures and comparisons.

General Training letter: four steps

• Greeting matched to the tone (Dear Sir or Madam / Dear Mr Sharma / Hi Ravi).
• Opening line stating why you are writing.
• One short paragraph for each of the three bullet points in the prompt.
• Sign-off matched to the tone.

Fill-in templates per question type and letter type

Here are reusable skeletons you can adapt in the exam. Replace the bracketed parts with the specifics of your question. Change the wording enough that it does not read as memorised, examiners penalise obvious template padding, but the skeleton keeps your structure tight under time pressure.

Chart type templates (Academic)

Letter type templates (General Training)

Competitors rarely give a fill-in skeleton for every single type. Keep these, then practise filling them with our IELTS vocabulary so your word choice does not stay generic.

Data and trend vocabulary

Trend vocabulary is what separates a band 6 from a band 7 in Academic Task 1. You need verbs and nouns for rise, fall and stability, plus adverbs and adjectives to show how much and how fast. Here is a compact set you can reuse.

Showing the degree of change

Model answers: a chart and a letter

Model answer 1: bar chart (Academic)

Task: The bar chart shows the percentage of households in three Indian cities that owned a smartphone in 2015 and 2022.

The bar chart compares smartphone ownership among households in Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur in 2015 and 2022. Overall, ownership rose sharply in all three cities over the period, and Delhi remained the highest throughout while Jaipur stayed the lowest.

In 2015, around 40 percent of Delhi households owned a smartphone, compared with 35 percent in Mumbai and just 22 percent in Jaipur. Delhi therefore led the three cities from the start, though the gap between it and Mumbai was fairly small.

By 2022, the figures had climbed steeply. Delhi reached about 85 percent and Mumbai was close behind at 80 percent. Jaipur saw the largest proportional rise, more than doubling to roughly 55 percent, yet it still trailed the two larger cities by a wide margin.

Model answer 2: semi-formal letter (General Training)

Task: You recently moved into a new flat. Write to your landlord to report a problem, explain how it affects you, and say what you want done.

Dear Mr Sharma,

I am writing regarding a plumbing problem in the flat I rented from you last month at 14 Green Park. Since last week, the tap in the kitchen has been leaking steadily and the water pressure in the bathroom has dropped sharply.

The leak is wasting a great deal of water and has begun to damage the cupboard below the sink. The low pressure also makes it very difficult to use the bathroom in the mornings, which is a real problem before work.

I would be grateful if you could arrange for a plumber to visit this week. Please let me know a convenient time, and I will make sure someone is at home. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,
Anita Verma

Want your own writing marked this closely? See our English writing classes and IELTS Writing Task 2 guide next.

Common mistakes to avoid (including Indian test-taker errors)

The mistakes that cost the most marks are predictable, and several are especially common among Indian test-takers. Fix these and your band usually jumps without any new grammar.

Tense misuse

Present continuous for past data is one of the most frequent errors we correct. Match your tense to the dates on the chart.

Over-detailing

Listing every single number from a table or graph is not description, it is copying. Group the data and pick the key figures. Indian candidates who are strong at maths often fall into this, treating Task 1 like a data-entry exercise.

Opinion in Academic Task 1

Other frequent errors

• Mother-tongue influence: “discuss about”, “return back”, “revert back”. Drop the extra word.
• Articles: “the number of car” should be “the number of cars”; watch a / an / the.
• Prepositions of change: it is “an increase in”, “rise to”, “fall by”, “compared with”.
• No overview: the single biggest score-capper. Always include one.
• Under 150 words: an automatic penalty. Learn to count roughly by lines.
• Copying the question word-for-word instead of paraphrasing the introduction.

Tips for band 7, 8 and 9

To move from a 6 to a 7 and beyond, you need a clear overview, accurate grouping, and controlled variety in grammar and vocabulary. The jump is less about big words and more about precision and consistency.

• Nail the overview every time, no data in it, this alone lifts many candidates to 7.
• Group data logically instead of listing; comparison is what earns marks.
• Use complex sentences with “while”, “whereas” and “although” to compare.
• Vary verb-adverb and adjective-noun trend phrases so nothing repeats.
• Proofread for the last 2 minutes: tenses, articles, plurals, spelling.
• Practise under a strict 20-minute clock so exam timing feels normal.

For a full study plan across all four skills, read our IELTS preparation tips. If you are in the capital, our IELTS coaching in Delhi page explains how the 1-on-1 sessions run.

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