WRITING REVIEW

LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION TO TASK 1

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

IELTS TASK 1 OVERVIEW

MAIN QUESTION TYPES

1. Line graph
2. Bar chart
3. Pie chart
4. Table
5. Process
6. Map

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

IELTS TASK 1 OVERVIEW

TASK 1 EXAM INFO
- You are asked to describe data presented as • Timing: 20 minutes (recommended)
a graph, chart, table, map or diagram • Length requirement: At least 150 words
- You may be assessed on your ability to: • Recommended length: 150 - 200 words
• Summarize, organize & compare data
• Describe the stages of a process
• Explain how something works
• Write accurately and coherently
• Use a range of vocabulary
• Use a range of grammatical structures

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

IELTS TASK 1 OVERVIEW – MARKING (BAND 7)

Task Response Coherence & Cohesion Lexical Resource Grammar

- Covers the requirements - Logically organizes - Uses a sufficient range of - Uses a variety of complex
of the task information and ideas; vocabulary to allow some structures
- Presents a clear overview there is clear progression flexibility and precision - Produces frequent error-
of main trends, differences throughout - Uses less common lexical free sentences
or stages - Uses a range of cohesive items with some - Has good control of
devices appropriately awareness of style and grammar and punctuation
although there may be collocation but may make a few errors
some under-/over-use - May produce occasional
errors in word choice,
spelling and/or word
formation 5
EXAMPLE

The line graph shows sales over a 12- month period. It can be
clearly seen that sales rose steadily in the first half of the year
from January to May and reached a peak in June. Then they
dropped off in July and levelled out in August. After rising
sharply during September, they suffered a dramatic fall in
October but then made a slight recovery in November. However,
the year ended with a slight downturn.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

BASIC LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

Verb Noun

fall fall
decline decline
Verb Noun
decrease decrease
drop drop
increase increase
go down downturn
rise rise
grow growth
go up upturn
climb climb

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

There is no change
do not change
remain + unchanged/stable/steady/constant/consistent
maintain at the same level
stay static
stay steady
level out at
level off at
stand at
stabilize at
stagnate at (negative meaning)
reach a plateau freeze at

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

fluctuate
oscillate
vary
vacillate
be in a flux
be + inconsistent/unstable/variable/volatile/erratic/unpredictable

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

reach a peak/a high point of

hit a peak/a high point of
peak at

hit the lowest point of

hit the bottom of
bottom out at

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

Describing the Speed of Change

Fast -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slow

suddenly fast moderately gradually

abruptly quickly steadily slowly
unexpectedly rapidly at a slow pace
instantly swiftly
speedily

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

Describing the Degree of Change

Strong --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weak

sharply dramatically considerably gently

steeply exponentially substantially fractionally
phenomenally remarkably minimally
drastically significantly slightly
notably marginally
noticeably modestly
negligibly

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BÀI TẬP ĐIỀN ĐỘNG TỪ VÀO CHỖ TRỐNG
IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

Use of Prepositions

Using verbs to describe Sales increased from 1 million to 6 million dollars.

trends

Sales increased by 5 million dollars.

Using nouns to describe There was an increase in sales from 1 million to 6

trends million dollars.

There was an increase in sales of 5 million dollars.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF TRENDS & MOVEMENT

Use of Prepositions

To stay / remain The rate of infant mortality started at 8 per 1000

To start / end children, peaked at 20 in the next 5 years before
To peak / bottom out finishing at 4 at the end of the period.

To fluctuate The percentage of single women fluctuated

between 20% and 40% over the period.

The percentage of single women fluctuated around

30 over the period.

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EXAMPLE
The line graph shows sales over a 12- month period. It can be

clearly seen that sales rose steadily _________________in the

first half of the year from January to May and reached a peak

_________________ in June. Then they dropped off in July and

levelled out _________________in August. After rising sharply

_________________ during September, they suffered a dramatic

fall _________________ in October but then made a slight

recovery _________________ in November. However, the year

ended with a slight downturn _________________.

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF AMOUNTS

With countable With uncountable With both kinds of nouns

nouns nouns

the number of the amount of the proportion of

many much the percentage of
the rate of
the quantity of
the figure for
the data for

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF APPROXIMATION

Meaning ‘less Meaning ‘about’ Meaning ‘more

than’ than’

just under approximately just over

well under roughly well over
just below just above
well below well above

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

LANGUAGE OF APPROXIMATION
Rewrite the sentences replacing the exact numbers with approximate ones, using “just/well” +
“under/below” or “over/above”.

1. Last year 90,083 mobile phones were sold in Italy.

2. 14.8% of the people surveyed said they were unhappy with the new design.

3. The company will be spending € 1.98 m on this technology.

4. The laboratory says that the ideal temperature is 18.1°C.

5. It will cost $3.97 to produce this item.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

TIME
EXPRESSIONS
(in) the period from ... to ...
(in) the period between ... and ...
in the first/last three months of the year
over the period ... to ...
over the next years / decades / quarter of a century, etc.
over a ten-year period
throughout the 19th century
from that time on
after that
then
in the 1980s
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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

REFERENCING LANGUAGE
One The 30-40 age group underwent a steady growth, but the most remarkable
one was in those aged 20-30.

The former The rate of unemployment among females and males rocketed in 2001, the
The latter former being 20% and the latter being 40%.

Did Whereas only 34% of adults said they went to the cinema in 1987-88, more
so than half said they did so in 1997-98.

Respectively The two most popular cultural events after the cinemas were plays and art
galleries, with attendances of 24% and 22% respectively.

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURES

1.
1. Time,
Time, SS ++ VV ++ adv
adv
-- In
In 2001,
2001, the
the number
number of
of cars
cars declined
declined rapidly.
rapidly.

2.
2. There
There ++ be
be ++ a/an
a/an ++ adj.
adj. ++ NN ++ in
in ++ SS ++ time
time
-- There
There was
was aa quick
quick fall
fall in
in the
the number
number of of students
students in
in 2005.
2005.

3.
3. SS ++ saw
saw // underwent
underwent // experienced
experienced ++ a/an
a/an ++ adj.
adj. ++ NN ++ time.
time.
-- The
The number
number ofof students
students underwent
underwent aa quick
quick drop
drop in
in 2005
2005 and and aa
recovery
recovery in in 2006
2006

4. Time + witnessed/ experienced + a/an + adj + N + in + S

- The year 2005 witnessed a quick drop in the number of students.

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

PRACTICE
Exercise 3: Rewrite sentences 1-8 below using the structure there + be + adj. + noun.

1. Spice exports from Africa fluctuated wildly 5. On the Internet, the number of sites rose
over the period. significantly.
2. The development of new products fell 6. There was a sudden decrease in the sale of mangos.
gradually. 7. There was a gradual decline in sugar imports.
3. There has been a noticeable decrease in 8. The quality of food in supermarkets has increased
research investment. slowly.
4. The purchases of tickets dropped
significantly last month.

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

PRACTICE
Exercise 2: Look at the graph below, then complete the sentences.

1. The ................................................... compares three

products: A, B and C.
2. Clearly, ................................... is the most successful
product ....................................
3. Sales of Product B ............................. in recent years
while sales of Product C ................................
4. In contrast, product A has shown a ..........................

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

PRACTICE
Exercise 4: Describe the following graph using 3 sentences with 3 different structures.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

REFERENCING LANGUAGE
This There was a dramatic rise in the number of phone users between 1990 and
1995. This was followed by a sharp slide in the rest of the decade.

That The rate of female applicants fluctuated wildly, while that of male applicants
climbed steadily.

These Enrolments in 2010 saw a marked fall, whereas these in 2012 experienced a
leveling off.

Those A higher proportion of people aged 35 and over said they attended classic
music concerts than those aged 15 to 34.

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 IELTS Writing Task 1 - Lesson 1

PRACTICE
Exercise 1: Match each sentence below with one of the following graphs

1. The investment level rose suddenly.

2. Sales of the product fell slightly in the final quarter.
3. The Research and Development budget has
stabilized over the past few years.
4. At the end of the first year, sales stood at 50 per
cent of the present level.
5. The price reached a peak before falling a little and
then maintaining the same level.
6. There has been a steady increase in costs over
several years.
7. The sudden collapse in share prices has surprised
everyone.
8. The value of the shares has shown a steady decline. 27