You have 20 minutes. In front of you is a line graph, a bar chart, a complex table, or maybe even a map. Your task is to look at this visual information and write a 150-word report summarizing what you see.
For many students, this can be the most confusing part of the IELTS Writing test. What should you write about? What are the “main features”? How do you structure your report? Is there a special kind of grammar or vocabulary you need to use?
The answer to all of these questions is yes. Academic Task 1 is not an essay; it is a factual report. It has its own unique set of rules and a specific structure that the examiners are trained to look for.
This is not just a list of tips. This is your ultimate, step-by-step guide to writing a high-scoring Task 1 response. We will provide you with a simple, 4-step structure that you can use for any graph, chart, or table. Master this structure, and you will have the confidence and the strategy to turn this challenging task into a reliable source of points for your overall Writing score.
First, Understand Your Mission: What the Examiner Wants
Before you write a single word, you must understand your job. The examiner is testing your ability to do four things:
- Select: Can you look at a lot of data and identify the most important information?
- Report: Can you describe the data accurately and without giving your personal opinion?
- Compare: Can you compare and contrast different figures, trends, or categories?
- Organize: Can you structure your report in a clear, logical, and easy-to-read way?
Your personal opinions, reasons, or interpretations are not wanted here. Your only job is to be a clear and objective reporter.
The Unbreakable Rules:
- Time Limit: Spend no more than 20 minutes on this task. Task 2 is worth more points.
- Word Count: You must write at least 150 words. If you write less, you will be penalized.
The 4-Step Structure for a Perfect Task 1 Report
The secret to a high-scoring Task 1 is structure. An examiner should be able to understand the entire report by reading just the first two paragraphs. Follow this simple, 4-paragraph structure every single time.
Step 1: The Introduction (Paragraph 1 – One Sentence)
Your first paragraph has only one job: to tell the examiner what the graph or chart is showing.
- How to Do It: You simply need to paraphrase the title of the visual. Look at the description given to you in the question (e.g., “The graph below shows the percentage of the population…”) and rewrite it in your own words, using synonyms.
- Example Question: “The graph below shows the consumption of fish and different types of meat in a European country from 1979 to 2004.”
- A Band 7+ Introduction: The line graph illustrates the amount of fish and three categories of meat that were eaten in a particular European nation over a 25-year period between 1979 and 2004.
Score-Boosting Tip: Never copy the question word-for-word. Paraphrasing immediately shows the examiner your vocabulary range (Lexical Resource).
Step 2: The Overview (Paragraph 2 – Two Sentences)
This is the most important paragraph of your entire report. Your “Task Achievement” score depends heavily on it. The overview is a summary of the main, most noticeable trends or features of the visual.
- How to Do It: Look at the graph or chart from a distance. Do not look at the specific numbers yet. Ask yourself:
- What is the most obvious thing I can see?
- Is there a clear overall increase or decrease?
- Which category is the highest? Which is the lowest?
- Are there any major intersections or dramatic changes?
- You should identify two or three of these main features and write them in two summary sentences. Do not include any specific data (numbers or percentages) in your overview.
- Example Overview (for the meat consumption graph):
Overall, it is clear that the consumption of beef, lamb, and fish all decreased over the period, while the amount of chicken eaten rose dramatically. Another significant feature is that chicken replaced beef as the most popular type of meat by the end of the period.
Score-Boosting Tip: Always start your overview paragraph with a clear signaling word like Overall, or In general,. This tells the examiner, “Here are the main points.” A report without a clear overview cannot score above a Band 5 for Task Achievement.
Step 3: The First Body Paragraph (Describing Specific Details)
Now, and only now, is it time to get into the details. Your first body paragraph should describe the first one or two key features you identified in your overview, but this time, you must support your descriptions with specific data.
- How to Do It:
- Start with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main feature you will describe.
- Describe the trend or the data, using the numbers, percentages, and dates from the visual to support your sentences.
- Make comparisons where relevant.
- Example Body Paragraph 1 (describing the decline of beef and lamb):
Looking at the details, the consumption of beef was the highest of all the categories in 1979, starting at approximately 225 grams per person per week. However, this figure then fell steadily to around 175 grams by 1989 before experiencing a more dramatic decline. Similarly, the amount of lamb eaten also saw a significant fall, dropping from 150 grams in 1979 to just over 50 grams by 2004.
Score-Boosting Tip: Vary your language. Don’t say “it increased” every time. Use a range of vocabulary to describe trends.
Step 4: The Second Body Paragraph (Describing More Specific Details)
Your final paragraph continues the job of the third. You describe the remaining key features from your overview, again supporting them with specific data.
- How to Do It: Follow the same structure as the first body paragraph. This is often a good place to describe the categories that were less significant or had a different trend.
- Example Body Paragraph 2 (describing the rise of chicken and the trend for fish):
In stark contrast to the red meats, chicken consumption showed a considerable upward trend. It began at around 150 grams, the same level as lamb, but then rose sharply, overtaking beef in approximately 1989. By the end of the period, it had become the most popular meat, with consumption reaching 250 grams. Fish, on the other hand, was the least popular category throughout the entire timeframe, with its consumption figure remaining relatively stable at just under 50 grams per person.
What about a conclusion?
For Academic Task 1, you do not need a separate conclusion paragraph. Your overview (Paragraph 2) acts as the summary of the main points. Ending with your second body paragraph is perfectly acceptable.
Putting It All Together
This 4-paragraph structure provides a clear,logical, and high-scoring framework for any data-based Task 1
- Paragraph 1: Paraphrase the question.
- Paragraph 2: Summarize the 2-3 main features (no data).
- Paragraph 3: Describe the first key feature(s) in detail (with data).
- Paragraph 4: Describe the remaining key feature(s) in detail (with data).
By following this method, you will show the examiner that you can select, report, and compare information in a clear and organized way, which is the key to achieving a Band 7 or higher in Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion.
Ready to practice your reporting skills?
👉 Take a full, computer-based IELTS Writing Mock Test and try this 4-step structure on a real Task 1.