Hello, I’m Sarah Thompson, an IELTS tutor and examiner with over 20 years of experience helping candidates master Academic Writing.
If you’re taking the Academic test, your first challenge will be Task 1 — describing visual information. Many students misjudge what the task requires and lose marks for irrelevant or incomplete answers.
In this guide, I’ll explain the Task 1 Format & Assessment in detail so you know exactly what to write and how examiners score your report.
In Task 1, you are presented with visual data and must summarise the main features, compare information, and highlight trends or patterns. You should write at least 150 words in 20 minutes.
Typical visual types include:
Your goal is to produce an objective academic description — not an opinion or analysis. This means no personal statements like “I think” or “This is good.”
Requirement | Explanation |
Summarise Key Features | Identify the most significant trends or changes without describing every number. |
Make Comparisons Where Relevant | Highlight differences or similarities between figures or stages. |
Avoid Opinions or Reasons | Do not explain why data changed — just describe how it changed. |
Use Accurate Data | Report numbers and percentages precisely from the visual. |
Maintain Formal Tone | Write objectively and use academic vocabulary. |
Section | Purpose | Example |
Introduction | Paraphrase the question | The chart illustrates the percentage of energy consumed from renewable sources in five countries in 2020. |
Overview | Summarise key trends or stages | Overall, Germany had the highest reliance on renewable energy, while Japan’s figures remained lowest. |
Body Paragraph 1 | Describe the first set of features or trend group | Germany’s use rose from 40 to 60 percent over the period. |
Body Paragraph 2 | Describe the remaining data or comparisons | In contrast, Japan and the USA showed minimal change. |
Band 8 Tip: Never skip the overview — it is crucial for Task Achievement and often the difference between Band 6 and 7+.
Examiners score your report using four band descriptors, each worth 25%.
Criterion | What It Means | High-Band Performance (7 +) |
Task Achievement | Did you cover key features clearly and accurately? | Summarises main features logically and selects key details. |
Coherence & Cohesion | Is the report well-organised and linked? | Logical progression, smooth use of linking devices, clear paragraphing. |
Lexical Resource | Range and accuracy of vocabulary. | Uses varied academic vocabulary (e.g. fluctuate, proportion, significant). |
Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Sentence variety and control. | Uses complex structures accurately with few errors. |
Function | Examples |
Trends | increase, rise, grow, decline, fall, plummet, stabilise |
Comparisons | higher than, lower than, similar to, in contrast, while |
Describing changes | sharply, gradually, steadily, dramatically |
Describing processes | firstly, subsequently, finally, followed by |
Quantities and ratios | a small fraction, the majority, twice as much, a quarter of |
Band 8 Tip: Avoid repeating “increase” and “decrease.” Use synonyms like climb, drop, decline, fluctuate, or stabilise.
Question: The chart below shows the percentage of household waste recycled in three countries between 2000 and 2020.
Outline Answer:
That outline already meets the examiner’s expectations for clarity and coverage
Mistake | Why It Matters | How to Fix It |
Copying the question verbatim | Shows no paraphrasing skill | Restate the question with synonyms |
Including opinions | Task requires description only | Focus on data, not causes |
Describing every detail | Wastes time and hurts coherence | Select main features |
No overview paragraph | Automatic Task Achievement penalty | Always summarise key trend |
Wrong tenses | Confuses timeline | Past for historical data, present for static facts |
Look at this task:
The graph shows the number of university graduates in Canada from 2000 to 2020.
Write:
✅ Sample Answer:
The line graph illustrates changes in the number of university graduates in Canada between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, the total number of graduates rose steadily throughout the period.
That’s concise, formal, and examiner-friendly.
Before you finish Task 1, ask yourself:
If yes, your Task 1 is already Band 7 or higher.
The Task 1 Format & Assessment forms the foundation of Academic Writing success. Focus on clarity, accuracy, and objectivity rather than complex ideas.
Next, move on to Describing Trends & Comparisons to learn how to write about changes and comparisons fluently.
You can also return to the IELTS Writing Overview: Format, Scoring & Key Skills for the full curriculum, or visit the British Council for official task examples.
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