Writing Task 1 is different for the IELTS General test and IELTS Academic test. Regardless of which you select, the format will be the same for all writing tasks. The writing test is designed to assess a wide range of writing skills such as how well you write a response, organize ideas and use accurate grammar. Thus, in this blog, we will examine all the sides of IELTS Writing Task 1, chart types, samples, tips and many more. But first, let’s understand in the next section what exactly the writing task of IELTS means.
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The IELTS Writing test is the 3rd part of the exam. It lasts for 60 minutes and consists of two different tasks. Task 1 of the writing section asks you to write a summary of at least 150 words about some visual information. It usually comes in the form of a graph, chart, or diagram. Interpreting visual data and explaining information correctly is a vital skill that is required in IELTS Writing Task 1.
Below are some of the key skills that are tested in Task 1 of the IELTS Writing Section.
To acquire the above-given skills students must understand the key or basic information that they will need while planning their response in task 1 of the writing portion. Let’s look at the below points for a better understanding.
Overall, the above section gives you a gist of IELTS task 1 for the writing section and the necessary information that students need to keep in mind. In addition, to make you more clear the next section covers the different examples of charts that come in task 1 of the writing portion. Also, the sample answers have been provided for a better understanding.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 includes a variety of chart types, each requiring a different approach for effective response. Familiarizing yourself with the question structures and range of graphics involved is vital. Thus, this section gives you an overview of the writing task 1 chart, along with one sample answer for each.
You will be presented with one of the following graphics:
These are some of the various types of charts that can be asked from you in task 1 in the writing section. Now let’s understand them one by one in detail with their required samples.
The bar graph is a two-axis chart with rectangular bars. It shows the changes in data over time. A bar graph is often known as a bar chart, and it is quite similar to a line graph. However, it can be arranged vertically or horizontally both
Example: The bar chart below depicts the sector contributions to India’s gross domestic product from 1960 to 2000. Have a look at the image below.
The bar graph illustrates the respective percentage contributions made by the agricultural, industrial and service sectors to the Indian economy between the period of 1960 and 2000.
In the whole period, the significance of agriculture reduced gradually while the services grew in importance decade by decade. There is a different pattern that has emerged for industry, which initially shows a slowly increasing percentage but then declined from 1980 onwards.
In 1960, agriculture contributed the highest percentage of GDP, reaching 62% but it then dropped in steady additions to a low of 12% in 2000. The service sector, on the other hand, had a minor impact on the economy in 1960. This situation changed gradually at first, but then its percentage contribution bounced from 28% to 43% between 1980 and 1990. By 2000 it matched the high point for agriculture in 1960, showing a shift in the overall trend.
The industry has remained a balanced contributor to India’s wealth throughout the period. As a sector, it grew slightly from 16% in 1960 to exactly a quarter in 1980 and then continued to be fixed for the next two decades, maintaining a constant share of the overall GDP.
The line graph task 1, is similar to a bar chart. It is formed by recognizing data points and connecting those points with a straight line. The line chart depicts changes in specific information over time.
Example: The line graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992. Look at the image below for a better understanding.
The line graph depicts the proportion of people in the UK over the age of 4 who watched TV and heard the radio over 24 hours from October to December 1992.
Overall, there is a notably greater percentage of the TV audience watched in the evening while the radio had the most audience in the morning. Over each day and night, many people watch TV as compared to the listening of the radio.
There are less than 10% of people who watched TV between 1 am and 12 noon but at 4 pm this figure increased rapidly, reaching at top of almost half the population at 8 pm. After this, the graph shows a sharp decline in viewers, reaching a low of only a tiny percentage by 3 am.
Radio, on the other hand, shows a very different trend. The peak time for listeners to be tuned in to radio was just after 8 am when around 27% of the population was listening. After a brief peak, these numbers dropped gradually to barely 2%, apart from variations at around 4 pm and 10:30 pm. The percentage of listeners has been low overnight before beginning a rapid rise from 6 am to 8 am.
A table chart is a collection of data that is organized in rows and columns. It is similar to the bar and line charts, but the difference here is that the data is presented in a tabular form. Through this, it helps in better visual presentation.
Example: The table chart below shows the distribution of the world population in 1950 and 2000, with an estimate of the situation in 2050. Do look at the image below to get an overview of how the table chart looks.
The table compares the changes in worldwide population distribution between the six major regions from 1950 to 2000, with predictions for the year 2050.
The only region where the percentage contribution is believed to increase by 2050 is Africa, while on the other hand, Europe is expected to have the highest drop over the same period. The only continent showing a change in percentage contribution over the hundred years is Asia.
From a relatively small percentage contribution of 9% in 1950, the people of Africa are predicted to make up a fifth of the total world population by 2050. It is almost a change of the situation for Europe which stood at 22% in 1950 and is hoped to continue its decline to reach just 7% in 2050.
Another remarkable trend can be seen in the data for Asia which is the only region to show an increase in proportion over the first fifty years but there is a prediction of a decline, looking forward to 2050. The other regions, North America, Latin America and Oceania each make up less than 10% of the total world population and depict only minor changes in contribution over the whole period.
A pie chart task 1 is a graph that emerges as a circular divided into parts. It depicts percentages of the total on a given topic. Candidates must submit their answers in an essay style by writing the facts.
Example: The below pie chart shows the amount of money that a children’s charity located in the USA spent and received in one year, 2016. Look at the image below.
The pie chart illustrates the amount of revenue and expenditures in 2016 for a children’s charity in the USA. Overall, it is visible that donated food is considered for the majority of the income, while program services are interpreted for the most expenditure. Total revenue sources just exceeded the outgoings.
In detail, donated food provides the most of the revenue for the charity, at 86%. Similarly, regarding expenditures, one category, program services, regarded for nearly all of the outgoings, at 95.8%
The other categories seem much smaller. Community contribution, which is the second largest revenue source, brought in 10.4% of overall income, and this was followed by the program revenue, at 2.2%. Investment income, government grants, and other income are very small sources of revenue, totalling only 0.8%
There were only two other expenditure items, fundraising and management and general, counting for 2.6% and 1.6% respectively. The total amount of income was $53,561,580 which was more than enough to cover the expenditures of $53,224,896.
The process chart is a graph that portrays a series of images that describe the process or level at which something gets made or works. In general, these charts are divided into two types: linear and cyclical processes.
Example: The diagrams below show a structure that is used to generate electricity from wave power. Take a glimpse at the image below.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Answer:Process Diagram
The two diagrams illustrate a method of creating electricity from the force of waves using a particularly designed man-made construction.
The structure, comprising of a wave chamber and a tall column that includes a turbine, is constructed on a sloping coastal cliff or sea wall where it is liable to the movement of the ocean waves.
The first diagram shows how the incoming wave fills a large chamber and forces the air inside this space up the column and through the turbine. The pressure of the air revolves the turbine that generates a current of electricity. This process does not end here for the structure can continue generating power as the sea goes back as can be seen in the second diagram.
As you can see, the water flows away from the structure, it pulls out air back down the column and downwards through the turbine in the same direction as the previous upward flow of air. This is how the turbine continues to turn causing even more electricity.
In Map task 1 of IELTS Writing, it represents a visual presentation of two places, one of the past and one of the present, it shows the significant differences between the two. Candidates must take note of multiple details as well as the picture’s progress from the past to the present.
Example: The maps below show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010. Look for the image below and take an overview that how a map looks.
The two maps depict how the village of Stokeford, located on the east bank of the River Stoke, changed over 80 years from 1930 to 2010.
There was significant growth of the settlement over these years and it was constantly gets transformed from a small rural village into a large residential area.
The first noteworthy change is the presence of housing in 2010 in the areas that were farmland back in 1930. New roads were constructed on this land and resedential properties were built. In reaction to the constant increase in population, the primary school was expanded to around double the size of the previous building.
Although the post office remained as a village facility, the two shops that can be seen to the north-west of the school in 1930, no longer existed by 2010, having been replaced by houses. There also used to be a large property standing in the large gardens located in the south-east of the school. Concerning time between 1930 and 2010, this was extended and converted into a retirement home. It was the most another transformation for the village.
Overall, these are the charts that come in the IELTS writing task 1. This helps you to better understand how you need to frame your answer for any specific chart. Now the next section covers the evaluation and marking criteria on how your answers are assessed.
The purpose of IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 is to evaluate a candidate’s writing abilities. Let’s understand the below-given points.
Thus, there are some standardized measures that students need to follow in their answers to achieve a good band score. Therefore, look at the image below and see what and what not to include in your IELTS Writing Task 1 answers.
The above image gives you an idea of how to frame your answer in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 according to the band scores. Now our last section talks about the tips to excel in task 1 of the writing section.
Suggested Read: IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics
Students must follow some IELTS preparation tips to master IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. So given below are some top tips to frame your answers for IELTS task 1 of the writing section.
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In conclusion, the IELTS Writing Task 1 may seem to be challenging, but with the right strategies and techniques you can conquer it. Thus, this blog covers the different types of charts with their samples of how to write in the exam. Additionally, there are some tips have also been provided for a good band score. Still, if you are facing doubts then take our offline or online IELTS test and interact with our IELTS experts at Gradding.com
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