IELTS Writing Task 1 Structure

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By ieltsnotes

In this lesson we’ll learn how to structure an IELTS Writing Task 1 essay.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Structure

Here is the basic structure of an IELTS Writing Task 1 essay:

  • Introduction: Paraphrase the information in your question.
  • Overview: Give a general overview (What are the main points? Don’t include any specific details)
  • Body paragraph 1: Describe and compare specific data and details.
  • Body paragraph 2: Describe and compare specific data and details.

How to write an Introduction

One of the easiest and most effective ways to write the introduction is to paraphrase the information in your question.

Use these synonyms to help you paraphrase the question:

  • The graph below shows … -> The line graph/ bar chart/ pie chart/ … compares/gives information about …
  • from 2000 to 2002 -> between 2000 and 2002
  • in the UK, Japan and China -> in three different countries
  • the number/amount of something -> how many/much …

Let’s look at an example here:

The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.

You can rewite the question using your own words:

The bar chart compares the proportion of spending per week on eight different categories by the average family in an unnamed country in two different years.

NOTE: You don’t need to paraphrase every single word. It’s ok to reuse some of the words in the question.

How to write an Overview

In order to write a good overview paragraph, you need to look at the big picture. Ask yourself:

  • What are the main trends?
  • The start/turning/end points?
  • What are the most important/obvious things in the chart?
  • What are the highest/lowest points? Peaks? Lows?
  • How many main stages are there?
  • Identical figures?
  • Exceptions?

After selecting the main features, it’s important cho choose which main features you should include in your overview. You should only choose 2 to 3 key features. You can start your overview with:

  • Overall, …
  • It is clear that …

Overall, the total amount of the police budget increased slightly during this time frame and the majority of it was spent on salaries.

You can write your introduction and overview in one paragraph or split them into two, it’s completely up to you.

How to write detail paragraphs

It’s important to choose which data to discuss in your body paragraphs.

Body paragraph is where you bring in specific data related to the main features. It’s crucial to be selective; trying to describe every data point is impractical and unnecessary.

How many detail paragraphs should there be? Usually two paragraphs are enough.

Body paragraph 1
Food + Leisure/Education
Body paragraph 1
Clothing/Footwear
Food:
– Turkey: highest >32%
– Ireland: lower nearly 29%
– Sweden: lowest 15.77%

Leisure/Education
– Turkey: highest 4.35%
– Spain: lowest 1.98%
– Italy: highest 9%
– Sweden: lowest 5.4%
– The other countries: roughly the same around 6.5%

FAQs

What strategies can I use to enhance my writing skills for IELTS?

The two most important things you can do are read widely and write often. The natural structure of language, especially the skillful weaving of words, phrases, and paragraphs, may be better understood by extensive reading. While it’s helpful to know grammar rules, reading widely can help you comprehend how words organically mix (collocations). In addition, a professional IELTS teacher may help you identify certain places in your writing that need development by providing constructive critique.

What is the ideal number of paragraphs for IELTS Task 1?

You have the flexibility to write either three or four paragraphs. If you opt for four, consider making the first two sentences into standalone paragraphs. The first sentence can form the introductory paragraph, while the second sentence could serve as an overview or summary paragraph.

Is a concluding paragraph necessary in Task 1 Academic?

In contrast to Writing Task 2, Task 1 Academic does not typically require a concluding paragraph. It’s not a mandatory component of your response.

What should be the word count for my response in Task 1?

At the very least, your response should be 150 words long. Some students often feel the need to write more. In such cases, aiming for about 200 words is a good target. However, it’s crucial to balance the length of your response. An excessively long answer could mean spending too much time on Task 1, thereby reducing the time available for Task 2. Remember, the total allotted time for both tasks is 60 minutes. Efficiently dividing this time is key: if you spend 20 minutes on Task 1, you’ll have 40 minutes left for Task 2. Conversely, if Task 1 takes you 30 minutes, you’re left with only 30 minutes for Task 2, which might be insufficient. It’s important to manage your time wisely to allocate adequate time to both tasks.

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