IELTS
Academic Writing Paper
Test Format and Tasks
Format and Tasks
Strategies and Examples
Further Help
References
Questions
Test Format
Test Format
– Writing Module lasts 60 minutes.
– Two tasks:-
Task 1 – 20 minutes, 150 words.
Words are counted by the examiners, so don’t write
too many or too few words.
Tip - learn how many words you usually write on a
line, and how many lines = 150 and 250 words, so
you don’t waste time counting words in the test.
Test Format and Tasks - Answers
Answers
– Must be written on the answer sheet.
– Must be written in full.
– Notes are not acceptable as answers.
– Notes may be made on the question
paper, but cannot be taken from the test
room.
Test Format and Tasks – Task 1
Task 1: (20 minutes, 150 words)
– Interpret a diagram or table, and present the
information in your own words.
Organise, present and possibly compare data
– e.g. money people spend on different forms of
entertainment.
Describe stages of a procedure or process
– e.g. the stages of human evolution.
Describe on object or event or series of events
– e.g. How the water cycle works.
Explain how something works
– e.g. How a car engine works.
Test Format and Tasks:
Assessment Criteria
General Points
You must respond appropriately in terms
of:
Register – formality and politeness; e.g. no
short forms
Organisation – clear and logical
Style – academic; e.g. no rhetorical
questions, no exclamations, no extreme
opinions, use tentative expressions such as
‘this appears to be…’ ‘this is probably due
to…’
Content – relevant and complete
Test Format and Tasks – Task 1
Considerations for Task 1 include:
Task Fulfillment – answering the
question completely
Coherence – e.g. Firstly, Secondly,
Finally
Cohesion – e.g. ‘this’, ‘it’, ‘he’, ‘and’, ‘but’
and synonyms
Vocabulary – good range, appropriate
Sentence Structure – concise but not
simplistic; e.g. correct use of relative
clauses.
Example of Task 1
Academic Writing - Writing Task 1
You should spend
about 20 minutes
on this task.
The graph below
shows the
different modes of
transport used to
travel to and from
work in one
European city in
1950, 1970 and
1990.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information
shown. You should write at least 150 words.
Example of Task 1
Academic Writing - Writing Task 1
With a partner:
1. Identify the main
trends for each
mode.
2. Identify any large
increases or
decreases.
3. Are there any
clear and
consistent
directions?
4. Does anything
seem surprising?
5. Are there any
clear
relationships
between modes
or percentages?
Possible Answer for Task 1
Full Answer
The graph shows the percentage of travellers in a European city who
used bus, car, bike and foot to commute to and from work in the years
1950, 1970 and 1990.
The amount of people using cars grew considerably, rising from just over
5% in 1950 to 25% in 1970, and then climbing to almost 40% by 1990.
However, the amount of people using bikes decreased. Over 25% of
commuters cycled in 1950, but this had fallen to less than 10% by 1990.
Similarly, the amount of people who walked to work fell from more than
a third in 1950 to about 10% in 1990.
The amount of people using buses initially rose in 1970 to about 30%,
but had dropped to about 17% by 1990.
The graph indicates the growing use of cars for commuting and the
corresponding fall in the popularity of other modes of transport since
1950.
Possible Answer for Task 1 -
Instructions: Introduction
The graph below
shows the different
modes of transport
used to travel to and
from work in one
European city in
1950, 1970 and 1990.
Answer:
The graph shows the percentage of
travellers in a European city who used bus,
car, bike and foot to commute to and from
work in the years 1950, 1970 and 1990.
Possible Answer for Task 1 - Cars
Answer:
The amount of
people using
cars grew
considerably,
rising from
just over 5%
in 1950 to
25% in 1970,
and then
climbing to
almost 40%
by 1990.
Possible Answer for Task 1 – Bikes
and Walkers
Answer:
However, the
amount of
people using
bikes decreased.
Over 25% of
commuters
cycled in 1950,
but this had
fallen to less
than 10% by
1990. Similarly,
the amount of people who walked to work fell
from more than a third in 1950 to about 10% in
1990.
Possible Answer for Task 1 - Buses
Answer:
The amount
of people
using buses
initially rose
in 1970 to
about 30%,
but had
dropped to
about 17%
by 1990.
Possible Answer for Task 1
Conclusion
Answer:
The graph
indicates the
growing use of
cars for
commuting and
the
corresponding fall
in the popularity
of other modes of
transport since
1950.
