1. Task 1 Writing in the Academic IELTS test is an information transfer essay.
2. You simply have to point out the main features of the information using the data
3. All Task 1 questions, whether it is a graph, table, pie chart, process or map have EXACTLY THE SAME STRUCTURE (grammatically, process and map questions normally require passive voice )
According to the public band descriptors, the structure of Task 1 should carry:
1. An appropriate format.
2. An overview with information appropriately selected.
3. It should present and highlight key features.
There are three main components of task 1
1. Introduction (essays have introductions: "appropriate format")
2. An overview (the 'big picture' of all the details)
3. Main details ("key features”)
Part 1: The Introduction
The graph below shows the unemployment rates in the US and Japan between March 1993-99.
Part 1: The Introduction
The introduction is a description of what the graph is about BUT you cannot copy the statement exactly the same because the examiner won't count the words if you do.
What is the graph about?
It is about the percentage of people who were unemployed in the USA and Japan over a period of 6 years from 1993 to 1999. In fact, it compares the unemployment figures in the two countries. Example introduction: "The chart compares the percentages of people who were unemployed in the USA and Japan over a period of 6 years from 1993 to 1999." So we have written an introduction in our own words so the examiner will count ALL the words.
Part 2: The Overview
The overview is extremely important. Candidates who do not write an overview CANNOT get higher than Band 5 for Task Achievement according to the Public Band Descriptors.
What is an overview?
The overview briefly describes the main feature(s) of the data. It is NOT the same as the introduction which just says what the data is about. The overview is a summary of the most important trends or features of the data.
If we analyze the data, it is the fact that:
1. One trend increased
2. WHILE the other decreased
3. They ended at the same value
So there are actually THREE important features here. Example overview:
"Overall, the graph indicates that the unemployment rate fell in the US while it doubled in Japan, with both rates finally reaching 5%."
So, we have written an overview that identifies THREE major features of the data:
1. The falling trend in US unemployment
2. The rising trend in Japanese unemployment
3. The fact that BOTH countries ended up with the SAME level of unemployment
Note:
Every time you write an overview you should attempt to do it with using words like: "while", "although", "even though" or "whereas".
Part 3: The Details
In details of task 1 the candidate must describe the main features of the data. Public Band Descriptors at Band 7says:
1. Clearly presents and highlights key features
2. Logically organizes information and ideas
Therefore the candidates MUST:
1. Report the main features and not every little detail
2. Organize the data into some logical grouping so it can show a clear progression.
This means the first thing to do is look for the trends and see if the data can be grouped some way.
How to identify the trends?
METHOD 1:
Look for
1. What is increasing?
2. What is decreasing?
3. What stays (approximately) the same or has some erratic behavior like increasing and then decreasing or decreasing and then increasing
METHOD 2:
Look for:
What has a high value?
What has a low value?
What has some medium value or erratic value?
This will allow you to group data together in some logical manner. Let us apply this to the graphs below:
Actually, we have already done most of the work because we realized there were 3 important features when we looked at the overview.
We will use the METHOD 1: - increasing, decreasing stays the same.
What is increasing?
- Unemployment in Japan
Please note: Japan is NOT increasing, it is not expanding, it is not getting bigger, and Japan does not change; it is the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE in Japan that is increasing. (Writing "Japan is increasing ..." is like waving a red flag at the examiner saying give me Band 5).
What is decreasing?
- Unemployment in the US
What stays the same?
Well, nothing all the time, but at the end of the period they both stay the same
Now put these three parts together into body paragraphs:
"In detail, the percentage of the people who were unemployed in the US began at 7% in March 1993, when it was actually at its peak, and then it fell fairly steadily until around March 1997, when it reached about 5.4%. After this, the rate fluctuated around 5%.The situation in Japan was almost the reverse of this. In March 1993, the unemployment rate shot up sharply from 2.5% to 3%, which amounts to a rise of 20% over a very short period of time. Although unemployment did not continue to increase at this pace, the number of people who were out of work continued to increase steadily until it hit its peak value during 1998, when it was 5% of the total workforce.
In the final 12 months from 1998 to March 1999, even though the US and Japan had started the study period with very different unemployment rates, both countries experienced an unemployment rate which was almost the same at approximately 5%."
Notice that all the minor detail have been left out EXCEPT the sharp rise in the unemployment rate in Japan at the very start. We did this because this change actually represented a 20% rise in a very short period of time, which makes it an interesting.
Synopsis
Five points to keep in mind for a good score in writing task 1
1. Write the Introduction by paraphrasing the statement.
2. Write an overview (normally the main trends)
3. Proper body structure (Main argument and supporting arguments)
A. Identify the main trends.
B. Group the data according to trends.
C. Write the summary by selecting main features and compare/ contrast where relevant.
4. Task one vocabulary (At least five good phrases)
5 Connectors (at least five)
2. You simply have to point out the main features of the information using the data
3. All Task 1 questions, whether it is a graph, table, pie chart, process or map have EXACTLY THE SAME STRUCTURE (grammatically, process and map questions normally require passive voice )
According to the public band descriptors, the structure of Task 1 should carry:
1. An appropriate format.
2. An overview with information appropriately selected.
3. It should present and highlight key features.
There are three main components of task 1
1. Introduction (essays have introductions: "appropriate format")
2. An overview (the 'big picture' of all the details)
3. Main details ("key features”)
Part 1: The Introduction
The graph below shows the unemployment rates in the US and Japan between March 1993-99.
Part 1: The Introduction
The introduction is a description of what the graph is about BUT you cannot copy the statement exactly the same because the examiner won't count the words if you do.
What is the graph about?
It is about the percentage of people who were unemployed in the USA and Japan over a period of 6 years from 1993 to 1999. In fact, it compares the unemployment figures in the two countries. Example introduction: "The chart compares the percentages of people who were unemployed in the USA and Japan over a period of 6 years from 1993 to 1999." So we have written an introduction in our own words so the examiner will count ALL the words.
Part 2: The Overview
The overview is extremely important. Candidates who do not write an overview CANNOT get higher than Band 5 for Task Achievement according to the Public Band Descriptors.
What is an overview?
The overview briefly describes the main feature(s) of the data. It is NOT the same as the introduction which just says what the data is about. The overview is a summary of the most important trends or features of the data.
If we analyze the data, it is the fact that:
1. One trend increased
2. WHILE the other decreased
3. They ended at the same value
So there are actually THREE important features here. Example overview:
"Overall, the graph indicates that the unemployment rate fell in the US while it doubled in Japan, with both rates finally reaching 5%."
So, we have written an overview that identifies THREE major features of the data:
1. The falling trend in US unemployment
2. The rising trend in Japanese unemployment
3. The fact that BOTH countries ended up with the SAME level of unemployment
Note:
Every time you write an overview you should attempt to do it with using words like: "while", "although", "even though" or "whereas".
Part 3: The Details
In details of task 1 the candidate must describe the main features of the data. Public Band Descriptors at Band 7says:
1. Clearly presents and highlights key features
2. Logically organizes information and ideas
Therefore the candidates MUST:
1. Report the main features and not every little detail
2. Organize the data into some logical grouping so it can show a clear progression.
This means the first thing to do is look for the trends and see if the data can be grouped some way.
How to identify the trends?
METHOD 1:
Look for
1. What is increasing?
2. What is decreasing?
3. What stays (approximately) the same or has some erratic behavior like increasing and then decreasing or decreasing and then increasing
METHOD 2:
Look for:
What has a high value?
What has a low value?
What has some medium value or erratic value?
This will allow you to group data together in some logical manner. Let us apply this to the graphs below:
Actually, we have already done most of the work because we realized there were 3 important features when we looked at the overview.
We will use the METHOD 1: - increasing, decreasing stays the same.
What is increasing?
- Unemployment in Japan
Please note: Japan is NOT increasing, it is not expanding, it is not getting bigger, and Japan does not change; it is the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE in Japan that is increasing. (Writing "Japan is increasing ..." is like waving a red flag at the examiner saying give me Band 5).
What is decreasing?
- Unemployment in the US
What stays the same?
Well, nothing all the time, but at the end of the period they both stay the same
Now put these three parts together into body paragraphs:
"In detail, the percentage of the people who were unemployed in the US began at 7% in March 1993, when it was actually at its peak, and then it fell fairly steadily until around March 1997, when it reached about 5.4%. After this, the rate fluctuated around 5%.The situation in Japan was almost the reverse of this. In March 1993, the unemployment rate shot up sharply from 2.5% to 3%, which amounts to a rise of 20% over a very short period of time. Although unemployment did not continue to increase at this pace, the number of people who were out of work continued to increase steadily until it hit its peak value during 1998, when it was 5% of the total workforce.
In the final 12 months from 1998 to March 1999, even though the US and Japan had started the study period with very different unemployment rates, both countries experienced an unemployment rate which was almost the same at approximately 5%."
Notice that all the minor detail have been left out EXCEPT the sharp rise in the unemployment rate in Japan at the very start. We did this because this change actually represented a 20% rise in a very short period of time, which makes it an interesting.
Synopsis
Five points to keep in mind for a good score in writing task 1
1. Write the Introduction by paraphrasing the statement.
2. Write an overview (normally the main trends)
3. Proper body structure (Main argument and supporting arguments)
A. Identify the main trends.
B. Group the data according to trends.
C. Write the summary by selecting main features and compare/ contrast where relevant.
4. Task one vocabulary (At least five good phrases)
5 Connectors (at least five)
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