IELTS COMMON MISTAKE:

WRITING TASK 1
LESSON 9
Common Mistake: Task Achievement Mistakes in
Writing Task 1
Test takers often struggle with deciding what to present and how to present it in an IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 response.

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you will be shown a diagram, a visual way to represent information. You may be shown one or
more than one diagram. This visual information can be shown as a:

● Table
● Chart
● Diagram
● Process
● Graph
● Map
You will also be given the following instructions:

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

You will need to do an information transfer task – the visual information you are given needs to be presented in the form of text.

As part of the TASK ACHIEVEMENT criterion, you will need to:

1. Write an introduction
2. Write an overview (a summary of what you see)
3. Present and highlight the key features with figures (data)

Let’s take a closer look at the last three points – the introduction, the overview and the key features that need to be presented.
Write an introduction

The reason for an introduction is to tell the examiner what you are going to write about. It is basically the question paraphrased.
For example, what the visual diagram is, the data source and when the data was collected.

The introduction:

● Can be one sentence

● Is the question rewritten into your own words (paraphrased)

Remember, if there are two diagrams in your task, you need to introduce both. This can be done in one or two sentences
Task Achievement 7.0 or higher: Introduction
DO
Write a clear introduction to describe what you see.

Paraphrase the question prompt. Use synonyms and phrases for non-key information. (E.g. unemployed = people who are
unemployed / 1970-2000 = over three decades from 1970 to 2000.)

Use keywords in your introduction (E.g. dates, times, countries, genders).

Introduce all charts, diagrams or tables.

Let’s look at some sample introductions:

Table
The table illustrates employment numbers in Australia over a thirty-year period from 1970 to 2000.

Chart (line/bar/pie)
The chart compares the number of cars that were made in France, Germany and Norway over a decade from 2000 to 2010.

Diagram
The diagram shows how car parts are assembled.

Process
The cycle shows how man-made fibres are produced.

Map
The maps illustrate changes in an English village over a century from 1915 to 2015.

Graph
The graph presents data from Ireland showing cinema attendance in major cities in 2016.

Two charts
The pie charts show the main energy resources used to generate power in a town in Australia, while the table shows how much energy
was consumed by the community in 1989.
The overview

The overview in your response should summarise what you see in the visual diagram. It should summarise the main:

● Trends
● Changes
● Developments
● Stages
● Noticeable features

You need to present a clear overview to reach a band 7 and higher.

Band descriptors - Task achievement

Presents a clear overview, the data are appropriately

Band 7 categorised, and main trends or differences are
identified

Band 6 A relevant overview is attempted

There may be a tendency to focus on details (without

Band 5
referring to the bigger picture)
Task Achievement 7.0 or higher: Introduction-Overview

DO
DON'T
Use linking words to summarise what you see. (E.g. Overall, To summarise, In summary)

Only include a summary of the main trends or features.

Look for trends in the diagram(s). Is there an overall increase, decrease or fluctuation in the visual diagram? Are there any high
or low points? Is it stable?

It should just be a summary statement of the most noticeable features in the diagram.

If the visual diagram shows future predictions, summarise the future trends in your overview.

Highlight any change in the overall trend of the visual diagram. (For example, a dip)
Introduction | Overview

Table
The table illustrates employment numbers in Australia over a thirty-year period from 1970 to 2000. Overall, it can be clearly seen that the numbers of people
employed have increased over the period, whereas the unemployed figures have remained stable.

Chart (line/bar/pie)
The chart compares the number of cars that were made in France, Germany and Norway over a decade from 2000 to 2010. In brief, Germany was the major
producer of vehicles over this period followed by France and Norway.

Diagram
The diagram shows how car parts are assembled. It can be seen that there are four main stages to car manufacturing. To be specific, these are moulding,
machining, joining and shearing.

Process
The process shows how man-made fibres are produced. It can clearly be seen that there are six steps involved in the production of cloth starting with the raw
materials and ending with the final product.

Map
The maps illustrate changes in an English village over a century from 1915 to 2015. In summary, in one hundred years, the village has experienced major
changes transforming it from a small farming village to an industrial town.

Graph
The graph presents data from Ireland showing cinema attendance in major cities in 2016. To summarise, it can be seen that the younger age groups visit the
cinema most, whereas older people rarely attend.

Two charts
The pie charts show the main energy resources used to generate power in a town in Australia, while the chart shows how much energy was consumed by the
community in 1989. Overall, by looking at the charts it can be seen that oil is used the most as an energy source in this town and that most power is required for
domestic cooling.
Key features

In your IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 response, you must present the key features and use data to support your description.

The key features are the features that stand out the most in the diagram. For example, if a diagram shows 5 countries, then
these 5 countries are the key features.

Key features which are selected are covered and

Band 7
clearly highlighted

Key features which are selected are covered and

Band 6
adequately highlighted

Key features which are selected are not

Band 5
adequately covered

Band 4 Few key features have been selected

Key Features of Differents Task 1 Types
Key Features of Differents Task 1 Types
Key Features of Differents Task 1 Types
To successfully address the task, you need to:

● Describe the key features in the visual diagram

● Use data from the visual diagram to support each key feature (E.g. figures, numbers, percentages,
buildings, structures, rooms)

If you do not use data in the visual diagram to support the key features, your response will match the band 5
description.

Band 5 The recounting of detail is mainly mechanical. There may be no data to support the description
What data should you present to get a band 7 or higher?

● Supporting data for each element (E.g. age groups, products, years)
● Noticeable figures that stand out (E.g. Highs, lows, fluctuation or period of stability)
● Figures that have increased or decreased
● Figures that have not changed at all, that remain the same
● Names of buildings on a map (E.g. Shop, post office, library)
● Roads, pathways or bridges shown on a map
● Things that have changed within the visual diagram (E.g location, renovation,
removal)
● Things that are new (E.g. buildings, roads, facilities)
● Each stage in a process
● Any extra step that may be part of a process
● The materials or equipment used in the process
To recap on what we have learned here today, remember these three things, and you’ll be on your way to achieving a band 7 or
higher in task achievement IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.

1. Write a clear introduction. But don’t copy the question.

2. Write a clear summary of what you see in the overview
3. Present and highlight key features with figures (data)

And remember, Academic Task 1 does NOT need a conclusion.

Q and A
Do you have any questions about this common mistake in writing task 1?