The Basic How to of IELTS Writing Task 1

One section in IELTS that may be really challenging is the Writing Section. In the previous test we have learned what criteria have to be met when doing the Writing Section. Today, we are going to learn how to meet those criteria and get a high marks simply by using basic template for writing.

For the Writing Section scoring criteria, go to this link
Criteria of IELTS Writing Section

What To Do In Writing Task 1

In Writing Task 1, test takers should explain a graph, chart, or  picture and write 150 words in 20 minutes. The explanation has to cover an overview, key features, and other relevant information. There are several samples of layout for Writing Task 1, and of course one may prefer to use certain layout to another. But, we will only focus on the basic layout that is, as far as I concern, most commonly used. The layout itself is presented by some material books and I believe I see it some time on the internet. There may be some modifications necessary, but keep it for later. Now, let’s see the basic layout.

Writing Task 1 Layout

1. Overview
In the IELTS writing Task 1, we will move from general to specific kind of layout. First, you will have to present everything in general, do not include any percentage, number, information about increase or decrease, because they are supposed to be put in the second and third paragraph. In this part, we need to introduce the graph. The original title for the bar graph is:

The number of travelers using three major airports in New York City between 1995 and 2000.

For the sample bar graph, we can write it down as follows:

The bar graph presents the proportion of passengers in three main airports in New York [active voice], or

The proportion of passengers in three main airports in New York is presented by the bar graph [passive voice]

Blue indicates the introduction of the graph*
Red indicates the paraphrased title*

“In IELTS Writing, we present our ideas by going from a very general information to the more specific one”

2. Key eature
2. Main Features
After we’re done with the overview, we need to explain all key features existing in the graph. In the case of bar graph, it should be any information presented in abscissa x (the year) and the ordinate y (the number of people, presented in millions) as well as any other relevant information such as names of the airports (John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark) and the city where the airports are located. In the writing, the key feature “name of the airports” is combined with the overview instead, and this is okay. The information about key features is presented as below:

The bar graph presents the proportion of passengers in three main airports in New York, namely John F. Kenndy, La Guardia, and Newark. The number of travelers  from 1995 until 2000 is presented in millions

The full color words are the key features*

3. Major Trend
Now, we’re moving on to the next step which is explaining the major trend, in which we will divide the data into

• Constant [this will be your paragraph 2]
• Fluctuating [this will be your paragraph 3]

“Paraphrasing is one of the most important aspect in IELTS Writing”

4. Giving Detailed Explanation

In this part, you will start doing the second and the third paragraph of your writing, and you will start talking about the number, percentage, which one is higher which one is lower, which one increases, which one decreases, etc. There are several things we need to present in this part, which are:

• Starting point, for example:

• Increase and decrease, for example:

• Further information about increase and decrease, for example:

• Highest and lowest point, for example:

• Ending point, for example:

IELTS WRITING TASK 1 SAMPLE