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IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic)

1. Line Graph / Bar Chart / Pie Chart / Table (Trends & Comparisons)

Structure

  1. Introduction: Paraphrase question (no numbers).

  2. Overview: Big trends (increase, decrease, stability, highest/lowest).

  3. Body 1: Describe first main trend/group.

  4. Body 2: Describe second main trend/group.

Keywords

  • Increase: rose, grew, climbed, surged

  • Decrease: declined, fell, dropped, plunged

  • Stability: remained stable, leveled off, plateaued

  • Comparisons: higher than, compared to, whereas, while

  • Extremes: peaked at, bottomed out at

Flashcard Example
Q: Task 1 line graph – what must the overview include?
A: Overall trends (general rise/fall, highest/lowest, stability) – no numbers.

2. Process / Diagram

Structure

  1. Intro: “The diagram illustrates…”

  2. Overview: Mention total stages, start/end points.

  3. Body 1: First half of process.

  4. Body 2: Second half of process.

Keywords

  • Sequencing: initially, subsequently, afterwards, finally

  • Passive: is heated, is collected, is transported

  • Stages: stage, step, phase

3. Maps (Before/After)

Structure

  1. Intro: “The maps compare…”

  2. Overview: Main changes (urbanization, facilities, infrastructure).

  3. Body 1: Changes in north/south/left.

  4. Body 2: Changes in other area.

Keywords

  • Location: to the north of, adjacent to, in the center

  • Changes: was demolished, was replaced by, expanded into

  • Trends: urbanized, modernized, redeveloped