IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

A GENERAL FORMAT
● The general format for Academic Writing task 1 is as follows. Each part has a specific format and therefore being
equipped with the core vocabulary will help you answer Task 1 efficiently and time-economically.

Introduction Paraphrase, never copy word for word from the question

Overview What the diagrams indicate at a first glance

Body Main features in the details

Comparison and contrast of the data. Do not give all the figures, only mention the most striking features of the graph.

● Criteria

Criteria What will be assessed by the examiner?

Task ● Fully satisfies all the requirements of ● How appropriately, accurately and relevantly you fulfil your task
Achievement the task. requirements.
● Clearly presents a fully developed ● How accurately you write your report and how appropriately
response. you present the data (compare/contrast/show the most striking
trends/features/data).

Coherence ● Uses cohesion in such a way that it ● No misinterpretation and presentation of data and trends.
and attracts no attention. ● How well you organise your paragraphs.
Cohesion ● Skillfully manages "paragraphing". ● Overall clarity and fluency of your report and message.
● How well you organise the information, data and ideas.
● Logical sequencing and appropriate use of linking devices
between and within your sentences.

Lexical ● Uses a wide range of vocabulary with ● The range of vocabulary you have used in your writing.
Resource very natural and sophisticated control ● How accurately and appropriately you have used
of lexical features. words/phrases while presenting the graph(s) as a report.
● Rare minor errors occur only as "slips".

Grammatical ● Uses a wide range of structures with ● The range of grammar you have used in your writing.
Range and full flexibility and accuracy. ● How accurately and appropriately you have used sentence
Accuracy ● Rare minor errors occur only as "slips". structures while presenting the graph(s) as a report.

Tips:
● Do not incorporate more than 3-4 paragraphs. Do not use a single paragraph to describe everything.
● Do NOT use words/phrases that are already given in the question. Do so only if there is no alternative word(s)/phrase(s)
to convey the same meaning/idea.
● Do not use the same sentence structure and data comparison/contrasting style over and over again. Bring a variety in
your writing to show that you can formulate different sentence structures without making any grammatical mistakes.
B GENERAL VOCABULARY
1 Vocabulary for the Introduction paragraph

Starting Presentation Type Verb Description

The bar graph line graph gives (data/information on) comparative data the differences
The given chart map presents (information about) data about/on the number of
The presented column graph pictorial shows (contrast / data about) how the the percentages of
The provided data picture information on the proportion of
compares figures
The shown diagram pie chart the amount of the ratio of
delineates illustrates
The supplied figure presentation the changes the trend of
demonstrates indicates
flow chart process the comparison of
denotes outlines
graph diagram
depicts provides
illustration table
describes represents
information table data
enumerates sketches out
expresses summarises
Examples:
● The diagram shows employment rates among adults in four European countries from 1925 to 1985.
● The pie charts represent the proportion of employees in 6 broad categories in Australia, between 2010 and 2015.
● The bar chart represents the money spent on five projects while the column graph compares the funds over a decade, commencing from 1981.
 Academic Writing Task 1
Tips:
● For a single graph use 's' after the verb. However, if there are multiple graphs, DO NOT use 's'.
● If there are multiple graphs and each presents a different type of data, you can write which graph presents what type of
data and use 'while' to show a connection.
The given bar graph shows the amount spent on fast food items in 2009 in the UK while the pie chart presents a comparison of people's
ages who spent more on fast food.
● For multiple graphs and/or table(s), you can combine their information instead of focusing on each graph.
"The two pie charts and the column graph in combination depict a picture of the crime in Australia from 2005 to 2015 and the
percentages of young offenders during this period."
Caution: Never copy word for word from the question. If you do, you would be penalised. The introduction is the first sentence
(or two) you write in your report. It should always deal with: What + Where + When.
The diagram presents information on the percentages of teachers having expressed their views about the problems they face when
dealing with children (What) in three Australian schools (Where) from 2001 to 2005 (When).

2 Vocabulary for the Overview paragraph

A glance at the graph(s) reveals that… At first glance… Generally speaking… It is clear/obvious (that)…
As a general/overall trend… As it is observed/presented… In common/general… Overall…
As can be seen… At the onset… It can be clearly seen that…
Examples:
● In general, the employment opportunities increased till 1970 and then declined throughout the next decade.
● At the onset, these figures show no overall pattern, rather showing considerable fluctuations from country to country.
● It is clear that more native university pupils violated regulations and rules than the foreign students did during this period.

Tips:
● You can combine your Introduction and Overview paragraphs into one. However, to make your contents clear, it is
recommended to keep them separated. This section should contain 75–80 words.
● DO NOT give numbers, percentages, or quantities in your general trend. Only give the most striking feature of the graph
that could be easily understood at a glance.
✗ It is clear that 70% of the male were employed in 2001 while 40 thousand women in this year had jobs.
✓ It is clear that more men were employed than women in 2001 and almost two-third of females were jobless in the same year.

3 Vocabulary to start the Body paragraphs

● You can have 1 to 3 body paragraphs, (not more than 3 in any case) depending on how many graphs are provided and
the type of these graphs. The phrases below can start your body paragraphs.

According to the… It could be noticed that… It is obvious…

As (it is) shown in the illustration… It could be plainly viewed that… It is worth noticing that…
As can be seen in the… It is apparently seen that… Now, turning to the details…
As it is presented in the… It is clear from the data… The data suggest that…
As the diagrams suggest… It is conspicuous that… The diagram reveals that…
Categorically speaking… It is explicitly observed that… The graph gives the figure…
Getting back to the details… It is lucid / crystal clear that… The table data clearly shows that…
It can be clearly observed that… It is interesting to note that… We can see that…

C DYNAMIC CHARTS
1 Showing the changes

Trends Verb form Noun form

Increase climb increase rise surge climb improvement leap

go up jump shot up uplift growth increase rise
hike leap (sky)rocket upsurge hike jump upward trend
improve move upward soar

Decrease collapse dip go down reduce collapse (down)fall reduction

decline dive go into free-fall slide decline drop slide
decrease drop plummet slump decrease
deteriorate fall plunge take a nosedive

Steadiness level out remain constant/stable/static/steady unchanged plateau static

plateau remain the same stability steadiness

Gradual ceiling trend

—
increase upward tendency/trend
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Gradual a descending trend
—
decrease a downward tendency/trend

Stability / immutable prevail consistency remain stable stabilise a flat

Flat level off/out reach a plateau remain the same stay uniform a plateau
plateau remain constant remain unchanged no change

Tips:
● Use 'improve' / 'an improvement' to describe a situation like economic condition or employment status. To denote
numbers use other verbs/nouns like increase.
● Do not repetitively use the same word/phrase. In fact, you should not use a noun or verb form to describe a
trend/change more than twice! To get a high band score you need to vary your vocabulary and sentence formations.

2 Degree of changes

Degree Adverb form Adjective form

Rapid abruptly hurriedly sharply substantially abrupt drastic rapid steep

considerably noticeably significantly suddenly acclivous huge sharp substantial
dramatically quickly speedily swiftly considerable hurried significant sudden
drastically rapidly steeply wildly declivous noticeable speedy swift
hugely dramatic quick wild

Moderate gradually moderately sequentially gradual moderate sequential

markedly progressively marked progressive

Steady ceaselessly steadily ceaseless steady

Slight gently minimally slowly gentle minimal slow

mildly slightly tediously mild slight tedious

● Use adjectives to modify nouns and adverbs to modify verbs.

● We usually use greater when we compare two numbers, and higher The number Percentage/Ratio
when comparing two percentages or ratios. Reversely, smaller or
fewer could be used to compare two numbers and lower to Large scale greater higher
compare two percentages or ratios.
Small scale fewer/smaller lower
Examples:
● The number of male doctors in this city was greater than the number of female doctors.
● The number of European programmers who attended the seminar was fewer than the number of Asian programmers.
● The amount of traffic slightly dropped during summer.
3 Fluctuations

Type of Change Verb form Noun form

Rapid ups and fluctuate palpitate wave fluctuations palpitations waves

downs oscillate vacillate oscillations vacillations
Examples:
● The price of the goods fluctuated during the first three months of 2017.
● The passenger number in this station oscillates throughout the day and in the early morning and evening, it remains busy.
● The number of cats waved in different months of the year and rapid ups and downs were observed in the last three months.
 Academic Writing Task 1
Tips:
● DO NOT try to present every single piece of data presented in a graph. Rather pick 5-7 most significant and important
trends/changes and show their comparisons and contrasts.
● Other expressions that can be used in this case include be erratic, rise and fall erratically, changes sporadically, rise and
fall irregularly, and changes intermittently.
● When referring to a specific point, use stand at.
4 Full sentences

● The data show that there was an improvement in the traffic condition
between 11:00 am till 3:00 pm.
● There was progress in the city during the end of last year.

V N V N

increase (to) an increase climb (to) an upward trend

rise (to) a rise go up (to) a growth

● From the presented information, there was a surge in the number of voters in
1990 compared to the data given for the previous years.
● There was a(n) rapid growth/increase/improvement in the stock value of the
company ABC during December of the last year.
N.B: Following adjectives can be used before nouns: rapid, sudden, steady,
noticeable, mentionable, tremendous, huge, enormous, massive, vast, gigantic,
monumental, incredible, fabulous, great, etc.

V N

surge a surge

boom (to) a boom / a dramatic increase

● The number of visitors reached a peak in 2008 at 2 million.

● The oil prices reached the top/highest/maximum in 1981.
N.B:
● Some of the nouns to present the highest/top of something are given below:
apex, pyramid, zenith, acme, obelisk, climax, needle, spire, vertex, summit, tower,
most, greatest, max, tops, peak, height, crown.
● Some of the verbs suitable for this are: peak (at), climax (at).

● There was a fluctuation in the passenger numbers who used railway

transportation during the year 2003 to 2004.
● The medicine tested among the rabbits shows a(n)
disparate/dissimilarity/inconsistency of the effect it had.

V N

fluctuate (around) a fluctuation

oscillate (around) an oscillation

● The data from the line graph show the stability of the price in the retail market
from January till June for the given year.
● As is presented, there was a plateau of the oil price from 1985 to 1990.

V N

do not change remain static (at) a level out

level out (at) remain steady (at) a plateau
maintain the same level remain unchanged no change
plateau (at) stay constant (at)
remain stable (at)
 Academic Writing Task 1
● There was a fall in the price of the energy bulbs in 2010 which was less than $5.
● After the initial four years, the company’s share price increased, and there was
a decrease in the bearish market.

V N V N

decline (to) a decline fall (to) a fall

decrease (to) a decrease go down (to) a downward trend

drop (to) a drop reduce (to) a reduction

● There was a sudden drop in the volume of CO2 between 2015 and 2020.
● A slump was seen in the price of confectionery products in the 2010s.

V N

plunge a decrease

slump (to) a slump

dramatically fall (to) a dramatic fall

plummet (to)

● The volume of greenhouse gases in France and Germany reached the

lowest/bottom/bottommost point in 1998.
● The price of milk reached a nadir at $3.50 a can in 2018.
N.B:
● Some of the nouns to present the lowest/bottommost of something are given
below: lowest point, nadir, rock bottom.
● One of the verbs commonly used in this trend is: bottom (at).

D STATIC CHARTS
1 Presenting types of changes/differences

Type of Change / Uncategorised

Adverb form Adjective form Other lexis
Difference lexis

Great change / enormously substantially enormous substantial a great deal almost

Huge difference overwhelmingly overwhelming a huge exactly
nearly
Big change / considerably considerable completely
precisely
Big difference significantly significant quite a lot
quite
Medium change / moderately moderate approximately
Moderate difference somewhat somewhat about

Minor change / fractionally slightly fractional slight a bit only just

Small difference marginally marginal a little
Examples:
● This year the population growth of the country is slightly higher than the previous year.
● This year the population growth is almost twice that of 2007.
● Sales of the company have increased quite a lot this year.

2 Highest and Lowest Points in Graphs

Type Verb form Noun form

Highest climax peak reach the vertex a/the acme a/the pinnacle a/the vertex
Point culminate reach the apex touch the highest point an/the apex a/the summit a/the zenith
hit the peak reach the peak a/the peak a/the top the highest point

Lowest get the lowest point nadir the all time low the lowest level
Point reached the nadir rock bottom point the bottom the lowest mark
touch the lowest point rock-bottom the bottommost point
 Academic Writing Task 1
Examples:
● The price of the oil reached a peak amounting $20 in February and again touched the lowest point amounting only $10 in July.
● Student enrollment in foreign Universities and Colleges increased dramatically hitting a peak of over 20 thousand in 2004.
● The CD sales hit the peak with 2 million copies sold in a month but after just three months it reached the nadir with only 20 thousand sold.

E REPORTING STATISTICS
1 Dates, Months & Years
● From 1990 to 2000 = Between 1990 and 2000 = Over the period = During the period = During this decade
● Since 1980 = Commencing from 1980 = Starting from 1980 = After 1980
● In the first/later half of the year, For the first quarter, The last quarter of the year
● In the 80s, In the mid-70s, In 1998, By 1995, In February
● Next/previous month, Within a time span of ten years, within five years
● Over the next/last/previous … days/weeks/months/years/decades

at time of day during for the duration of a period of time

around period of time or point in time for a period of time

after/before point in time in month/season/year/decade/century

between…and / from…to starting points and ending points on date/day of the week

by up to a certain point until before or up to a specific point in time

2 Percentage, Portion and Numbers

● Percentages:
○ 10% increase (drop) = 10 per cent increase (drop) = increased (dropped) by 10%
○ Fall at 50%, Reach to 75%, Decline to about 49%, Stand exactly at 43%.
○ Tripled, doubled, one-fourth, three-quarters, half, double fold, treble, 5 times higher (lower).
● Presenting Percentages:
○ In percentage / in %: 20%, 25 percent, ten per cent, etc.
○ In proportion: two out of five, every student out of three, etc.
○ In fraction: one-third, two-fifth, a quarter, etc.
● Fractions and proportions:

5% A tiny portion/fraction, an insignificant minority/proportion 49% Around a half, just under a half
15% A small/portion 70% A large proportion, a significant majority/proportion
25% Exactly a quarter 77% More than / approximately three quarters
26% Roughly one quarter, just over one quarter 80% Well over three quarters
32% Nearly one-third, nearly a third 90% A very large proportion

3 Words/Phrases of Approximation

a little more/less than approximately just over/above more or less

about/around just around/about just under/below nearly/roughly/almost

4 Multiplication

Type of Difference =, ≈ (Equal) 0.5x (Half) 2x (Twice) 3x (Thrice) Nx

Verb be exactly/practically/roughly the same halve double treble N times

triple
Noun exactly/practically/roughly the same half

5 Reporting Comparisons

Type Word(s) should be used

Similar about approximately just about roughly

almost around nearly very nearly

Just over just above just across just beyond just bigger just over

Just short just a little just below just beneath just short just under

Much more well above well across well beyond well over

Much less well below well beneath well short well under
 Academic Writing Task 1
Examples:
● The number of high-level women executives is well below the number of male executives in this organisation, where approximately 2000
people work at executive levels.
● The number of domestic violence cases was just below 500 in March which is just a little over than the previous months.
● The average rainfall in London in 2014 was just above the average of two other cities.

F REPORTING MAPS, DIAGRAMS AND PROCESSES

1 Sequencing
● The words and phrases below delineate the sequence of the steps.

First step First = Firstly

Next steps After = Followed by = Following that = Next = Subsequently = Then

Secondly, Thirdly…

The steps before Previous = Prior to

Steps at the same time During = Simultaneously = While

Final step Afterwards = Finally

● When listing, to show multiple values in a list, use consecutively, respectively, subsequently, and sequentially at the end of
the sentence. However, we will not use them if there are only two values to write.
● "Former" and "latter" can also be used to replace items in a list of two. "Former" replaces the first item while "latter"
replaces the second item.
2 Describing a process
● The sentences below show the lexical and grammatical suggestions for describing processes.

Introductory sentence The diagram/picture/flowchart depicts/illustrates/describes how / the process of....

Body paragraph ● First(ly), Second(ly), Third(ly), Afterward/Finally/Lastly

(Sequencing) ● After that/which / Next / Then, Following that/Followed by, Subsequently/ Subsequent to that
● As soon as / Immediately/Just after that...
● At the beginning, In the end, Just after the beginning, Just before the end...

Ending of a step After this step/stage/process...

Once this stage/step is completed…

Details of a step The phase/step/stage involves…

Repeating a step The cycle/process then repeats itself.

The cycle/process is then repeated.

3 Describing a map

Where = from/in/to which

Where? - situate/locate
 Academic Writing Task 1

Buildings Roads, bridges and railway lines Leisure facilities Trees and forests

Expansions develop, enlarge, expand, extend, make bigger

Shrinkages make smaller, shrink, reduce

clear, demolish, flatten, knock down, pull down, remove, tear down
Removals
cut/chop down

add, build, construct, erect, introduce

Additions plant
open up, set up

be made into, become, convert, redevelop, relocate, renovate, replace

Transformations
modernise

G WRITING FOCUS
1 Expressions to Focus on An Item in the Graph

As for… In the case of Turning to Where … is/are concerned, …

Concerning… Regarding When it comes to…, it/they … With regards to…

2 Comparison and Contrast

● Besides using compared to/with and relative to, linking and signal words to signify comparisons and contrasts within
sets of figures are needed.

Comparison As much as, In a similar fashion, In the same way, Meanwhile, Same as, Similarly

Contrast Contrarily, However, In contrast, On the contrary, On the other hand

● Make sure you use the appropriate comparative and superlative form of the words when you make a comparison.

+er / est 1 syllable: cheap → cheaper → cheapest 2 syllables, ending with -y: pretty → prettier → prettiest

Both ways List: clever, common, cruel, gentle, handsome, likely, narrow, pleasant, polite, simple, stupid, etc.

more / most + Most: striking → more striking → most striking 3+ syllables: attractive → more attractive → most attractive

Exceptions good → better → best, bad → worse → worst

Examples:
● The largest proportion of water was used in the agriculture sector while the lowest percentage of water was used for industrial purposes.
● The overall production level of this company made the authority happier as it was doubled in the last quarter of the year.
● The factory offered more attractive overtime rates which motivated more employees to work for extra time.

3 Similar and Different Trends

Type Word(s) should be used

Both subjects are the absolutely the same exactly the same just the same as the same as
same/identical equal to/with identical to/with precisely the same

Subjects are not identical but about the same as almost the same as practically the same as
similar almost identical/similar nearly the same as

Subjects are in the reverse/opposite It is quite the opposite/reverse The reverse is the case
 Academic Writing Task 1
4 Prepositions of Time

in months (in January) years (in 2015) centuries (in the 21st century)
seasons (in summer) decades (in the 1990s) long periods (in the ice age)

on dates (on December 26th) special days (on New Year's Eve)
days of the week (on Monday) times of a day (on Saturday morning)

at exact times (at 8 o'clock) mealtimes (at lunch time) weekends (at the weekend)
holidays (at Christmas) nighttime (at night)

Notes: in the morning - on Sunday morning

5 Using Appropriate Prepositions

by margins of differences, going with verbs The cost of houses declined by $25,000.
units of measurement (as instruments) Papers are sold by the ream.

from origins (different forms) Paper is made from wood.

from/to starting/ending values It increased to 80 from 58. It decreased from 10 to 3.

at values at a certain point The sale started at $20.

in units of measurement (in plural form) Rice is measured in kilogrammes.

of margins of differences, going with nouns There was a drop of six units.
origins (same form) This table was made of wood.

per one unit of something The employees are paid per week in this factory.

6 Formal Alternatives of Informal Expressions

● Since IELTS is a formal test, your writing should be formal as well. Using informal words or expressions should be
avoided. Some of the informal words are so frequently used that it would be tough for you to eliminate them from your
writing. It is advised to make a habit of using formal words and expressions instead- for your performance and band
score's sake.

Informal Formal Informal Formal Informal Formal

also in addition / additionally I think in my opinion point out indicate

anyway notwithstanding in the end finally right correct

but however in the meantime in the interim seem appear

cheap inexpensive keep retain show demonstrate/illustrate

find about discover kids children so therefore/thus

get obtain look at examine start commence

go down decrease lots of / a lot of much, many think about consider

go up increase need to required

7 Predictions
● Some graphs and diagrams not only list down the data that represent something from the past or the present time but
also give a prediction of the future. Following is a list of such lexis to help you accurately describe any predicted data.
○ It is anticipated/estimated/expected/forecast/predicted/projected that … will … .
○ … is/are anticipated/estimated/expected/forecast/predicted/projected to … .
○ It gives anticipation/estimation/expectation/forecast/prediction of ..........
○ … will have … by (year/month/decade)
8 Showing and incorporating numerical data
● You should not write down every piece of data/figure that is given in the diagram in your report writing and doing so
would actually hurt your band score. You are expected to mainly show the following in your report writing.
○ Comparison and contrast of data/trend
○ Most significant figures/data/information/trend (typically 4-6)
○ The highest/lowest point
○ The overall scenario
 Academic Writing Task 1
● However, to compare/contrast data or to show a significant change/trend you will need to show a figure that you will
use as the base. For example, The British spent over eighty thousand Pounds on average which was twice the spending
of Americans and approximately quadruple than that of the Irish. Here, over 80 thousand pounds is the base figure.

account for The number of infected people, which accounts for nine, is markedly lower than the number of infected
patients in the last month, which accounted for forty.

be The percentage of foreign students was exactly ten in 2001 at this university and it rose three times in ten
years.

constitute The initial expenditure, which constituted 280 USD, climbed rapidly and reached its peak during 2014.

make up In the first decade, the population remained steady, which made up 2.8 million approximately, but it
doubled in the next 30 years.

stand at The percentages of males and females who opined that they should be allowed to get married at 21 stood
at 14 and 16 in 1990 but witnessed a noticeable decline in 2010.

Use of brackets In summer, the number of refrigerators sold (154) was far greater than the refrigerators sold (63) in winter.

Relative clause From January to March the death case rose three times which was only 23 between October and
December.

H EXTRA VOCABULARY
acclivity an upward slope, an upward trend, an increase All in all = In summary, In conclusion
apex/vertex the highest point At the onset it is clear = As can be seen
commence begin, set in motion, initiate, inaugurate from the graph
declivity a drop, a fall, a decrease From this graph, it is quite evident that
deteriorate/dip/dive fall = In conclusion, In summary, In general
elaborate describe, explain The most possible ground = The most
elucidate explain, make clear, clarify, throw/shed light on, explicate, annotate common reason
enumerate identify, itemise, list, summarise, recite, specify, quote
frantically very quickly, very rapidly
hardly barely, merely
indicate point out
nadir the lowest point
oscillate/palpitate/vacillate fluctuate
overwhelmingly greatly, significantly
plunge slump, plummet, shrink, fall off, decline, decrease, drop, reduce
prevalent usual, prevailing, widespread, endemic, rampant
projected predicted, forecasted, estimated
radically completely, hurriedly, abruptly
soar sharply increase
trifling small, insignificant
unravel untangle, clear up, disentangle, explain, straighten out, separate out
variation disparity, inequality, dissimilarity, difference, variety, diversification