IELTS Writing (Academic): Introduction

The Academic Writing module of IELTS consists of two writing tasks of 150 and 250
words each. Task 1 requires you to describe some data or a diagram. Task 2 requires you
to write a short discursive essay, usually presenting your opinion on a particular issue.

Both writing tasks must be completed in 60 minutes. It is up to you how much time you
spend on each task. You must write in pencil on paper – there are no computers
involved.

IELTS Writing Task 1: Describe a diagram

Time: 20 mins (recommended). Words: 150 minimum

In this task, you are shown a diagram or set of data and you have to write a short report
identifying the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Example:

The chart below shows Internet use at Redwood Secondary School, by sex, from 1995 to
2002.

Write a report for a university professor on the main features of the chart and make
comparisons where relevant.

Other examples of IELTS Writing Task 1: A table showing accident statistics; A line graph
comparing sales at four companies; Two maps showing a town’s development over 30 years;
Several diagrams showing different models of bicycle.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Discursive essay

Time: 40 mins (recommended). Words: 250 minimum

In this task, you have to write about your opinion on a particular issue, or about both sides of
an argument. The question will make it clear which approach you should take.

Example:

It is widely believed that people’s ability to learn new things decreases with age and that
companies should actively recruit younger employees who have greater potential to learn.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Other topics covered in IELTS Writing Task 2 may include: education, health, technology,
work, or the media. Sensitive topics such as politics or religion are avoided.

You do NOT need any special knowledge of these issues, only the ability to present ideas in a
logical format with clear links and an appropriate style of language for academic discourse.

Typically, you will write a four- or five-paragraph essay beginning with an introduction and
ending with a conclusion.

In IELTS Writing, Task 2 is more important than Task 1, so you should spend more time on
Task 2.

How IELTS Writing answers are scored

Understanding the IELTS Writing scoring criteria for both Task 1 and Task 2 is critical to
performing well in the IELTS Writing module. The examiner awards a score of 0 to 9 based
on four criteria:

Task Achievement or Response: Do you answer the question fully: do you write enough
words, cover the main points, and have a clear position?

Coherence and Cohesion: Do you organise your ideas into paragraphs and connect them
with linking words?

Lexical Resource: Do you make good use of vocabulary: is it relevant to the topic and
appropriate to academic writing?

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Do you make good use of grammar and punctuation: do
you attempt complex sentences and avoid too many mistakes?

Each of these four criteria is worth 25% of your IELTS Writing score.
Five exam techniques for IELTS Writing

1. Always make a paragraph plan before writing. In Task 1, each paragraph should deal
with one aspect of the data. In Task 2, each paragraph should contain one main idea.

2. Avoid repeating the same words too many times. Paraphrase the questions and vary
vocabulary as much as possible in both IELTS writing tasks.

3. In Task 1, do not attempt to explain or present reasons for the data. You should only
describe what it shows.

4. In Task 2, remember that you can write about other people’s ideas as well. Practice
using reporting verbs and passive structures to give your writing a more academic style.

5. Mistakes are much more obvious in writing than in speaking. You should be
continuously working to improve your English grammar while preparing for IELTS.

ELTS Writing Task 1: Question

You might see a line graph like this one in Task 1. The ability to describe changes over time is
a key skill in line graph tasks.

The diagram shows the consumption of renewable energy in the USA from 1949-2008.

Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer identifying the main trends and
making comparisons where relevant.

IELTS Writing Task 1: Model Answer

The line graph shows growth in the consumption of renewable energy during the period 1949-
2008 in the USA. The results are also broken down by source.
The first thing to note is that renewable energy use more than doubled over the period, with
particularly strong growth in biofuels. This sector did not exist in 1980 but experienced a
steep rise during the 2000s to over one quadrillion Btu per year. This made biofuels a serious
challenger to both wood and hydroelectric power, which both saw only limited growth
overall. The former grew steadily between 1975 and 1985, but then slipped back to around its
original level of 1.8 quadrillion Btu. The latter began the period at the same level as wood but
experienced more substantial growth. However, it also fell back to around 2 quadrillion Btu,
with a particularly sharp drop in the late 1990s.

Finally, wind power emerged late in the period but showed a gradual rise to around 0.5
quadrillion Btu, suggesting that it, along with biofuels, will replace wood and hydroelectricity
as the main sources of renewable every in the future.

(184 words, IELTS 8.0)

Why does this Task 1 answer get an IELTS Band 8 score?

Task achievement: The model answer describes the overall trend first, followed by an
analysis of the different energy sources. Numerical evidence is used sparingly to illustrate the
trends. The main trends are used as the basis of a prediction in the final sentence.

Coherence and cohesion: Trends are explained in general terms first, followed by supporting
figures. Some energy sources are grouped together for ease of understanding. It and this are
used throughout as cohesive devices, and the writer uses the former and the latter to refer
back to information in a previous sentence.

Lexical resource: The writer uses a wide range of vocabulary to describe change, including
adjectives and adverbs such as limited, substantial and particularly sharp, and verbs such as
doubled, slipped and emerged.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer is free from grammatical errors.
Sentence forms are complex and include relative clauses and linking words such as with. The
candidate makes use of past, present and future tenses. Punctuation is also used carefully and
accurately throughout.

Teacher’s Notes

A line graph question in IELTS Writing task 1 will typically ask you to compare the performance of
several different things over time, in this case renewable energy sources. Maximise your score by
making good use of reference links such as ‘the former/latter’ and ‘respectively’. Even though you are
only supposed to describe what is shown in the graph, a nice way to end is to make a prediction
about the future based on the current trend.