What Academic Task 1 asks you to do
In Academic Task 1 you are shown a visual — a line graph, a bar chart, a pie chart, a table, a map, or a process diagram. Your job is to describe it in your own words in at least 150 words. It is advised to spend about 20 minutes on this task, because Task 2 is worth more.
The most important rule: you report what the visual shows — the main trends, the biggest values, and how things compare. You do not give your opinion, and you do not explain why it happened. Just describe the data clearly and accurately.
This is the Academic version. In General Training, Task 1 is a letter instead of a visual. If you are not sure which test you are taking, or you want the full picture, start with the full IELTS Writing guide.
How Task 1 is marked
Task 1 is marked on four things, and each one counts the same amount (25%). Knowing them tells you exactly what to work on:
| Criterion | What the examiner looks for |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement | Did you cover the main features, report accurately, and include an overview? |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Is it well organised, with clear paragraphs and smooth links between ideas? |
| Lexical Resource | Do you use a good range of words for trends and comparisons, correctly? |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Do you use different sentence types, and how many grammar mistakes do you make? |
Because the four are equal, it pays to work on your weakest one first. Want to know which is holding you back? Aflo scores each criterion for you — see how Aflo scores your English.
A four-part structure for any visual
Almost every graph, chart, table or map fits the same simple shape. Learn it once and you can describe anything the test shows you.
| Part | What to write | Numbers? |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the question: say what the visual shows, in your own words. | No |
| Overview | The 2–3 biggest features — the main trend or the highest and lowest points. | No |
| Detail 1 | Describe one group of data closely, with figures. | Yes |
| Detail 2 | Describe the rest of the data, with figures and comparisons. | Yes |
Introduction: do not copy the question word for word. Change the words but keep the meaning. If the question says The graph shows the number of visitors to three museums, you might write The line graph gives the visitor figures for three museums.
Overview: step back and name the biggest patterns — what went up the most, what stayed the highest, the general direction. Keep numbers out of the overview; save them for the detail paragraphs.
Language for trends, comparisons and processes
Task 1 rewards a range of words for movement and comparison. Reusing increase ten times hurts your Lexical Resource score. Here is a table you can learn and reuse:
| Direction | Verbs | Nouns | Small change | Big change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up | rise, increase, grow, climb | a rise, an increase, growth | edged up, crept up | surged, soared, rocketed |
| Down | fall, decrease, drop, decline | a fall, a decrease, a decline | dipped, slipped | plunged, plummeted, collapsed |
| No change | stay steady, remain stable, level off, plateau | a plateau, no change | held steady | remained flat throughout |
| Up then down (or peak) | peak, reach a high, then fall | a peak, a high point | a slight peak | a sharp peak |
Add the size of the change with an adverb or adjective. Say sales rose sharply or there was a gradual rise in sales. Useful pairs: sharply / steeply (fast), steadily / gradually (slow and even), slightly / marginally (a little).
For comparisons, use higher than, lower than, twice as many as, the highest, the lowest, far more than, slightly less than. Comparisons are the heart of bar charts, tables and pie charts.
If the visual is a process or a map
A process diagram (how something is made or how a cycle works) needs different language. Describe the steps in order with sequence words: first, next, then, after that, finally. Use the passive voice because the doer is usually not important: the beans are washed, the water is heated, the bottles are filled.
A map compares two times or two plans. Use words of place and change: to the north of, next to, was replaced by, a new road was built, the forest was cleared. Maps also use the passive: a car park was added.
Common mistakes that lower your band
- No overview. This is the biggest score killer. Without a clear Overall, sentence, Task Achievement stays low even if the rest is neat.
- Giving an opinion or a reason. Do not say why the trend happened or whether it is good. Just report the data.
- Copying the question. Repeating the exact words of the task gives you no credit. Paraphrase it in your own words.
- Listing every number. You do not need every figure. Choose the important ones and group similar data together.
- Putting numbers in the overview. Keep the overview general. Numbers belong in the detail paragraphs.
- Writing under 150 words. This costs marks directly. Learn to reach the minimum comfortably, with time to check.
The fastest way to fix these is to write a few real tasks and see where you slip. Aflo gives you a visual, times you, and scores each criterion so you can drill one weakness at a time.
Frequently asked questions
How many words do I need in Academic Task 1?
At least 150 words. This is a minimum; writing fewer can lower your band. Aim for a little over 150 so you have room to include an overview and enough detail.
How long should I spend on Task 1?
About 20 minutes. Task 2 is worth roughly twice as much, so keep Task 1 to around 20 minutes and give Task 2 the rest of your 60 minutes.
Should I give my opinion in Task 1?
No. Academic Task 1 is a description, not an essay. You report what the visual shows — the main trends and comparisons — without saying what you think or why it happened.
What is the overview and why does it matter?
The overview is one or two sentences naming the 2–3 biggest features of the visual, with no numbers. It is the single most important part of Task 1; without a clear overview it is very hard to reach a high band.
How is Academic Task 1 different from General Training?
In Academic, Task 1 asks you to describe a visual such as a graph, chart, table, map or process. In General Training, Task 1 is a letter instead. Task 2 is a similar essay for both.