The 4-paragraph structure (works for every chart)
- Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase the question. "The line graph illustrates how the share of electricity produced from four sources in Westland changed between 2010 and 2025."
- Overview (2 sentences): the two or three biggest features, with no numbers. "Overall, coal remained the largest source but fell sharply, while solar and wind grew rapidly."
- Body paragraph 1: the first group of key details, with figures.
- Body paragraph 2: the second group of key details, with figures and comparisons.
The overview is the most important sentence in Task 1. Examiners look for it first, and a missing or unclear overview is one of the most common reasons for band 5 or 6 in Task Achievement.
How to write a strong overview
Ask yourself three questions:
- What's the biggest, and the smallest?
- What's the general trend? (up, down, stable, fluctuating)
- What's the most striking change or difference?
Start with Overall, or In general, and don't include numbers.
Each chart type, and how to approach it
| Chart type | What to describe | Key language | Model answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line graph | Trends over time, highest and lowest, turning points | rose steadily, peaked at, fell sharply, levelled off | Electricity by source |
| Bar chart | Comparisons between categories (and over time) | the most popular, twice as many as, slightly lower than | Commuting · Enrolments |
| Table | Group the data; don't list every number | the highest figure, by contrast, similarly | Coffee by age |
| Pie chart | Proportions and the biggest shares | accounted for, a third of, the largest proportion | Student spending |
| Process diagram | Stages in order, start and end | is collected, is then filtered, finally, once | Rainwater system |
| Maps | What changed and what stayed the same | was replaced by, was built, was demolished, to the north of | Millbrook 2000 and 2025 |
Every practice page above gives you an instant band estimate for all four criteria, then shows the model answer to compare.
Vocabulary for describing trends
| Movement | Verbs | Nouns | Adverbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up | rise, increase, grow, climb, surge | a rise, an increase, growth | sharply, dramatically, steadily, gradually |
| Down | fall, decrease, decline, drop | a fall, a decrease, a decline | significantly, slightly, considerably |
| No change | remain stable, level off, stay at | stability, a plateau | |
| Up and down | fluctuate | fluctuation | |
| Highest / lowest | peak at, hit a low of | a peak, a low point |
Two patterns to vary your grammar:
- Verb + adverb: Solar power rose sharply from 1% to 27%.
- Adjective + noun: There was a sharp rise in solar power, from 1% to 27%.
Learn these words with our IELTS vocabulary flashcards, which include a set on Task 1 trends.
Language for proportions and comparisons
- accounted for / made up / represented 38%
- just over a third, almost half, the vast majority, a small minority
- twice as many as, three times higher than, slightly fewer than
- whereas, while, by contrast, in comparison
The 6 mistakes that cost the most
- No overview, or an overview full of numbers.
- Listing every number instead of selecting the key features.
- Copying the question word for word in the introduction.
- Wrong tense: past for past dates, future forms (is predicted to) for projections.
- Giving reasons or opinions that aren't in the chart.
- Under 150 words. Use the word counter in our IELTS writing checker.
Unofficial practice. We wrote these questions to match the official IELTS question types and timings. They are not real exam questions, and points shown are practice feedback, not a band score. For official sample tests, visit ielts.org.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should I write for IELTS Writing Task 1?
At least 150 words. About 170 to 190 words is ideal: enough to cover the key features without wasting time you need for Task 2.
Do I need a conclusion in Task 1?
No. Task 1 needs an overview, which summarises the main trends or features. An overview can go after the introduction or at the end, but it must be there. In the official band descriptors, having no clear overview is a band 5 feature for Task Achievement.
Should I give my opinion in Task 1?
No. Task 1 is a report of the information shown. Don't explain causes or give opinions that aren't in the chart.
How much is Task 1 worth?
Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1, so Task 1 is about one third of your Writing band. Spend about 20 minutes on it and 40 on Task 2.