IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Checklist

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

This article will introduce you to IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 and give you a checklist of everything you need to score a Band 7+ on your Task 1 report. Click here if you’re taking the General Training IELTS exam.

In the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 exam, you will be required to write a report about at least one of the following:

• A process
• A map
• A bar chart
• A pie chart
• A line graph
• A table
• Multiple graphs

This report needs to be at least 150 words and is worth 1/3 of your overall score for IELTS Writing.

That means that this short report could potentially make the difference between a Band 6 and a Band 7 in the writing exam.

Many of our IELTS students used to spend around 80% of their writing preparation on Task 2 before they joined our VIP Course. When asked for the reason why, most replied that it was because “Task 2 is worth more marks”.

Although this is true, I don’t think anyone that registers for the IELTS exam should feel unprepared when they go into the test centre. Choosing to perfect your ability to write a Task 1 report will both boost your confidence and increase your chances of getting the score you need. 

In my opinion, the key to scoring well in Task 1 is knowing exactly how your report will be marked. You can then use this information to give the examiner what they need to award you a Band 7 or above.

The slideshow below has arranged each part of the Task 1 marking criteria into a checklist. By following this checklist, you will give the examiner everything you need to score a Band 7+ in your report.

If you don’t have an IELTS tutor, this is a great alternative to getting your reports corrected. 

Feel free to print it out and tick ✓ it off as you assess your essays.

Let me know what you think of it in the comments below.

Further Writing Task 1 Resources 

• Writing Academic Task 1 in 5 Easy Steps 

Task 1 can seem really difficult if you haven’t seen it before. This lesson breaks the question types down into 5 easy steps.

• Charts Lesson

Charts are probably the most common Task 1 question type. This article will show you which data you should choose and how to describe it.

• Maps Lesson

Maps are not very common, but they are generally seen as the easiest. If you don’t learn how to do them, you will really regret it if one appears on your paper.

• Multiple Charts/Graphs Lesson 

What should you do if you get two different charts or graphs? This lesson will answer this question for you.

• Process Lesson

Sometimes you will be shown a process such as a life cycle or how something is manufactured. This requires a very specific approach and we cover everything here.

Writing Task Video Lesson 

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