IELTS Writing Task 1: How to prepare for Task 1

This article describes how to prepare for Task 1. First, become familiar with the graph types, for example bar, and line graphs. Do lots of practice exercises in describing graphs. Practice identifying key information in graphs and charts. Practices working out what graph axes represent. Become familiar with a variety of ways to:

IELTS Writing Task 1: Objects/How Something Works

This part of the test will test your ability to describe objects or describe how something works. See the example below.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagrams below show how to plumb in a washing machine.

Summarize the information by describing the main features and explaining how a washing machine works.

You should write at least 150 words.

Reading: True/False/Not Given Question Type

The True/False/Not Given question type is maybe one of the question type in IELTS reading that is hard to answer by the test takers. Here are some tips on how to deal with those kind of question type.

IELTS Writing Task 1: Processes or Flow Charts

This part of the test will test your ability to describe something. Here’s the example describing the stages of a process/procedure.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The following flowchart shows the process students at an English language school go through.

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

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.