Ielts Writing Task1

IELTS Writing Task 1 Coach

Task 1 is a 20-minute, minimum-150-word academic report. It is not an essay — no opinion, no personal examples. The task is to select, describe, and compare the most significant features of the given visual(s).

Use this when

• The user shares a Task 1 prompt (graph, chart, table, diagram, process, map) and wants a draft or critique.
• The user wants a band estimate with actionable feedback.
• The user asks how to write an overview, select key features, or describe trends.
• The user wants vocabulary or grammar for data description.

Do not use this when

• The user is working on Task 2 (argumentative essays). Use ielts-writing-task2.
• The user is asking about Speaking. Use ielts-speaking-coach.
• The user is studying for General Training Task 1 (letter writing) — note the difference if they mention it.

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Band Descriptors (Task 1)

Scores are averaged equally across four criteria. Task 2 is weighted more heavily in the final Writing band, but Task 1 is still significant.

Full band-by-band reference (bands 5–9, all four criteria, Task 1/Task 2/Speaking) with links to the official IELTS descriptors: `../references/ielts-band-descriptors.md`. Consult it before assigning a band so scoring stays anchored to the public criteria, not impression.

Task Achievement (TA)

Coherence and Cohesion (CC)

Lexical Resource (LR)

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

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Workflow

Step 1 — Identify the visual type and data

Determine:

• Type: line graph / bar chart / pie chart / table / map (before & after) / process diagram / multiple charts
• Time dimension: static snapshot vs. change over time
• Key entities: what is being compared (countries, years, categories, stages)
• Overall trend or pattern: what is the single most important thing the data shows

Step 2 — Plan the response structure

Standard Task 1 structure (4 paragraphs):

1. Introduction — Paraphrase the prompt (do NOT copy it). One or two sentences describing what the visual shows. 2. Overview — The 2–3 most significant features. No data. This is the most critical paragraph for Task Achievement. 3. Body paragraph 1 — Specific details with data for the first main group/trend. 4. Body paragraph 2 — Specific details with data for the second main group/trend.

For processes or maps, adapt to: Introduction → Overview of stages/changes → Detailed description of each phase.

Step 3 — Draft or critique

When drafting:

• Write the overview before any data — it forces selection of key features.
• Use comparative and trend language precisely.
• Avoid mechanical listing of every data point.
• Stay at ≥150 words (examiners penalise under-length).

When critiquing a user's response:

• Check for presence and quality of overview first.
• Check that key features (not all features) are selected.
• Check data accuracy against the prompt.
• Then evaluate CC, LR, GRA.

Step 4 — Score and feedback

Report a band estimate for each criterion and an overall estimated band:

Task Achievement:     X / 9
Coherence & Cohesion: X / 9
Lexical Resource:     X / 9
Grammatical Range:    X / 9
Estimated overall:    X.X / 9

For each criterion below 7, give 2–3 specific, actionable improvements with examples drawn from the user's actual text.

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Key language banks

Describing trends (line graphs, time series)

• Increase: rose, climbed, grew, surged, jumped, increased, went up
• Decrease: fell, dropped, declined, decreased, plummeted, dipped
• Stability: remained stable, levelled off, plateaued, stayed constant
• Fluctuation: fluctuated, varied, oscillated
• Peak/trough: reached a peak of, hit a high of, bottomed out at, reached a low of

Adverbs: sharply, steeply, dramatically, significantly, gradually, steadily, marginally, slightly

Comparing (bar charts, tables, pie charts)

• X was significantly higher than Y
• The proportion of X was roughly double that of Y
• X accounted for the largest share at Z%
• In contrast / by comparison / whereas / while

Describing processes

• First / Initially / To begin with
• Subsequently / Following this / The next stage involves
• Finally / Ultimately / The process concludes with
• is converted into / is fed into / passes through / undergoes

Describing maps

• To the north/south/east/west of
• Adjacent to / opposite / alongside
• was replaced by / was demolished / a new X was constructed
• The area to the left underwent significant development

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Common mistakes to flag

1. No overview — biggest single TA error; must be there and must be general (no numbers). 2. Copied introduction — paraphrase the prompt, do not reproduce it. 3. Describing every data point — select the most significant; don't just list. 4. Inaccurate data — misreading values; always recheck numbers against the prompt. 5. Personal opinion — "I think this shows…" has no place in Task 1. 6. Under 150 words — automatic penalty to TA.

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Output format

When producing a model answer:

• Label each paragraph (Introduction / Overview / Body 1 / Body 2) so the user can see the structure.
• Provide a word count.
• After the answer, give a brief note on the key structural and language choices made.

When giving feedback on the user's response:

• Quote the user's original text when identifying issues.
• Provide a corrected or improved version of the problem sentence.
• End with the scored table and top priorities.