IELTS Writing Task 1: Describe Bar charts, line graphs, pie charts and tables

This part of the test will test your ability to perform one or more of the following functions in English:

• -          Describe graphic data,
• -          Describe the stages of a process/procedure,
• -          Describe an event/sequence of events,
• -          Explain how something works.

Bar charts, line graphs, pie charts and tables are most frequently given for the test. However, you could also be given an object/series of pictures/diagrams/flow chart to describe.

If graphs are used there may be just one, usually a line graph or a bar chart. However, there could also be more than one of the same type of graph or combination of graphs and charts. For example, you could get a bar chart and a pie chart together (see Cambridge IELTS 1, page 31) or a line graph and a table.

Remember that the length time to do this task is 20 minutes and you have to write at least 150 words. Your performance in Task 1 will be assessed on some criteria:

• -          Task Achievement: follow the instruction properly, write a clear, accurate and relevant description of the information. Focus on the important trends presented as graphic information.
• -          Coherence & Cohesion: organize your writing by using a suitable structure. Use connective words to link sentences and paragraph logically.
• -          Lexical: use a wide range of vocabulary naturally, spell accurately and use appropriate words.
• -          Grammatical Accuracy: use a good grammatical structure accurately and use a variety of sentence structures.

Here’s the example…

The chart below shows how primary, secondary and tertiary students in Britain spend their free time. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. How students in Britain spend their free time (5 or more hours a week).

How to do Task 1: -          Spend about 5 minutes reading the graphs or charts, and preparing your answer. -          Understand what the axis on the graphs or the percentages in the pie charts represent. -          There will be too much info to describe every detail, please focus on the key information. -          If there are 2 graphs/charts look for ways to compare the data. -          Think about the time period and the tenses you must be using. -          Varying your vocab but avoiding repetition by using synonyms. -          Organize your information clearly. Use introduction-body-conclusion. -          Don’t copy phrases from the question. Use your own words. -          You’ll receive a higher mark if you use a wide range of structures & vocab. -          An opinion is considered as irrelevant for this task.

Good luck!

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Scanning and Identifying Location of Information, Labeling a diagram which has numbered parts

Scanning and Identifying Location of Information

These questions require you to scan the text to find the location of information. You will be given a set of statements and you need to find the paragraph each one comes from.

Look at the example below.

Questions 1-5

The passage has ten paragraphs labelled A-J. Which paragraphs contain the following information? Write the appropriate letters A-J in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once.

1 Concern that recycling is not profitable.

2 Explanation of why fees for dumping waste should be increased.

3 The best way to deal with garbage.

4 The problem of decaying organic waste.

5 Recycling of automobiles.

Questions 1 - 6

Label the booths at the exhibition.Choose your answers from the box and write them next to questions 1-6.

Oriental vases Korean cabinets Indian rugs Chinese furniture Thai silk Malaysian batik Tibetan prayer rugs Balinese woodwork Oriental art

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

• - Quickly read the statements to get an idea of what the text is about.
• -  Take the statements one by one. Underline the key words.
• -  Search the text to find where the info is mentioned.
• -  Remember to look for synonyms and parallel expressions.

Labeling a diagram which has numbered parts

In this type of the task, you will be given a diagram and asked to label it with words from the text or labels given.

How to do:

• -  Read the instructions carefully,
• -  Study the diagram and the labels if they are given.
• -  See you can guess any of the answers,
• -  The info will be given in the same order as the numbers on the diagram.
• -  Scan the text to find the info. If labels are not provided, make sure you use words from the text.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Choosing Headings

There are two types of headings questions:  Type 1. Choosing headings for paragraphs or sections of a text. This type of question requires you to sum up the meaning of a paragraph in order to match it to a bank of possible headings. You may be asked to match every paragraph or section of the text or just a selection of paragraphs.  

Criteria in Writing IELTS

In Writing IELTS, there are two tasks that you have to complete. Each task is assessed independently. However, it should be noted that task 2 carries more weight in marking compared to task 1. There is a slight difference between scoring criteria of task 1 and task 2. Check the difference as follows.

IELTS Reading Task: Matching

These questions require you to match a list of opinions to sources mentioned in the text. These questions are used with the texts which present a number of different people’s opinions.

The sources are usually numbered and the opinions are given a letter each. In the answer booklet you write the letter(s) beside the numbers.

There could be more opinions than sources. If so, you’ll need to write more than one letter beside the question in the answer booklet. If there are more sources than opinions, then one of more or the opinions will be used more than once.

Look at the example below.

This example has more opinions than sources.

Questions 1-4

Look at the following writers (Questions 1-4) and the list of their opinions below. Match each person with their opinion. Write the appropriate letters A-F in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any of the writers’ names more than once.

1 Anna Blair

2 Dr Ian Sampson

3 Dean Frazer

4 Jane Langton

List of opinions A Life experience is essential for a writer. B Anyone who has a story can write. C Discipline and organization are just as important as creativity. D A writer has to be content to work alone. E The first novel is the easiest to write. F A good working relationship with ones’ editor is essential for a writer.

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

-          Take the names of the sources one by one and find them in the text and underline them.

-          When you have located a name, read carefully to see what is said about his/her opinions.

-          Look at the list of opinions and see if you can make a match.

-          Remember that the text is not likely to use the same words as the questions, so look for synonyms and parallel expressions.

-          Be aware that the sources may be referred to in more than one place in the text.

-          The opinions in the task are not listed in the same order as they appear in the text.

-          Phrases like ‘he said’ or ‘in his opinion’ should help you locate the arguments.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Classification Question

These questions ask you to classify information given in the reading text. Classifications are often according to the writer’s opinion or according to a period of time or place. You will be asked to identify a letter which represents one of the classifications for each item in a list of statements.

Look at the example below.

Questions 1 -4

Classify the following statements as referring to

US the United States

J Japan

G Germany

or UK the United Kingdom

Write the appropriate letters in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any answer more than once.

1 The biggest spenders on personal travel.

2 Had the greatest number of international travellers in 2002.

3 Take the majority of their holidays in Western Europe.

4 Employ the most people in the tourist industry.

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

-          Make sure you know how many classifications there are and what letters you have to use. (e.g. US, J, G & UK in the exercise above),

-          Read the classifications carefully. Make sure you don’t confuse the letters which represent each one.

-          Read the statements/phrases or words beside the question numbers and underline the key words.

-          Start with the first statement and work your way through them one by one, searching the text to find where the info is mentioned.

-          The questions will not necessarily be in the same order as the text and the wording will probably be different in the text so look out for synonyms and parallel expressions.

-          When you’ve located the reference in the text, read it carefully and select your answer.

-          Don’t leave any statements without a letter.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Yes, No, Not Given or True, False, Not Given

These tasks either ask you to identify the writer’s views or claims in the text or identify information in the text.

You will be given a list of statements which are either opinions or facts and you have to decide for:

Type 1: if they are opinions, whether they are the opinions of the writer or not or not given in the text.

Type 2: if they are facts, whether they are true, false or not given in the text.

For the type 1, writer views may not be directly stated, so you may have to work out what is implied.

Try this example below.

How to do:

• -  Read the instructions carefully,
• -  Quickly read through all the statements to get an idea about the topic.
• -  Read the first statement more carefully. Understand the main topic.
• -  Search for the section of the text which deals with the idea or fact.
• -  Once you have found the relevant section, read it carefully. For type 1, if the statement disagrees with the ‘s writers’ opinion, then select ‘no’ and if the author doesn’t give an opinion, then select ‘not given’. Fot the type 2. If the statement is the opposite to the information in the text, then select ‘false’ and there’s no mention of it, select ‘not given’.
• -  Continue with the rest of the statements.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Notes/table/form/summary/flow chart/diagram completion question

There are two types of these completion questions in the IELTS reading:

Type 1. Selection of possible answers.

Type 2. Without a choice of possible answers.

• These questions require you to:
• Insert a word or phrase in the middle of a sentence,
• Insert a word in the middle and another word at the end of a sentence,
• Write words or phrases that are not in sentences,
• Write a letter that represents a word or phrase.

Type 1: The words or phrases provided will be different from the words in the text. There will be more words than gaps.

Type 2: Similar to the short answer questions in that they will tell you to write your answer in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one word, two words or three words but no more.

As with short answer questions: also note that the answers should not require a hyphenated word (e.g. non-smoker) or a contraction (e.g. They’ve).

If the answer requires a number, you can write it as a numeral (e.g. 6) or a word (e.g. six) or a combination (e.g. 6 million).

Try this examples below.

Type 1:

Type 2:

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

-          Look at the table or form etc carefully:

Examine any headings or subheadings,

Try to get an any idea of the topic,

Decide what section of the passage the exercise covers,

Anticipate grammatical form as well as vocabulary,

If a box of answers is given, see if you can guess any of the

matches & eliminate unlikely answers,

If the question is in the form of a table, work out which way it

is best to read it – horizontally or vertically.

 If the question is in the form of a summary, read through it

first and see if you can guess any of the missing words.

- Take each gap one by one and search the text for the best words to fill the gap.

Remember:

If there is a box of answers, there will be at least two you don’t need.

If there is no box, the answer could be one word, two words or three words but not four or more.

If you think you need more than three words your answer is probably incorrect,

There may be alternative rubrics for these completion questions e.g. ‘complete the noise’ or ‘complete the explanation’ or ‘complete the news report’.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Sentence Completion Questions

There are two types of sentence completion questions in the IELTS reading:

Type 1. Selection of possible answers.

Type 2. Without a choice of possible answers.

These questions require you to complete the end of a sentence. The questions appear in the same order as the information in the text. Type 2 questions are similar to the short answer questions in that they will always tell you to write your answers in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one word, two words or three words but no more. They’ll also tell you to use words from the reading passage.

As with short answer questions:

Also note that the answers should not require a hyphenated word (e.g. non smoker) or a contraction (e.g. They’ve). Also, if the answer requires a number, you can write it as a numeral (e.g. 6) or a word (e.g. six) or a combination (e.g. 6 mllion).

Try this examples below.

Type 1: Questions 1-3 Complete each of the following statements (Questions 1-3) with the best ending A-F from the box below. Write the appropiate letterts A-F on our answer sheet. 1.       Incorporating organic and inorganic. 2.       Spent mushroom compost. 3.       Adding potassium regularly.

Type 2: Questions 4-6 Complete the sentences below with words taken from the passage. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 4-6 on your answer sheet. 4.       Bulbs should be stored ………… . 5.       Seeds may deteriorate if exposed to ………… . 6.       Summer flowering annuals should not be planted until after …………. .

How to do the short answer questions:

-          Read the instructions carefully and quickly read. As you do this,

o   Underline the keywords.

o   Try to work out what information you need.

o   Think about the grammatical form.

-          Go back to the first sentence. Decide what information you need to complete it.

-          Find the place where the info should be in the text. Look out for synonyms and parallel expressions.

-          Make sure your sentences make sense both logically and grammatically.

-          Remember:

o   For the type 2, the answer could be one word, two words or three words but not four or more.

o   If you think you need more than three words your answer is probably incorrect.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.