IELTS Writing Task 1 is a 150-word task completed in 20 minutes. It accounts for one-third of your Writing section score. Academic Task 1 requires describing a graph, chart, table, map, or diagram. General Training Task 1 requires writing a formal, semi-formal, or informal letter. This guide covers both.
The most common visual types you will see in IELTS Academic Task 1:
Critical: The overview paragraph must be present and correctly identify the main trends. Without a clear overview, Band 6 is the maximum for Task Achievement regardless of how good the rest is.
| Describing increase | Describing decrease | Describing stability |
|---|---|---|
| rose significantly | fell sharply | remained stable |
| increased dramatically | declined steadily | levelled off at |
| surged to | dropped to | plateaued at |
| climbed gradually | plummeted to | fluctuated around |
| grew from X to Y | decreased from X to Y | stayed constant at |
GT Task 1 requires a 150-word letter in one of three registers. Choosing the wrong register (e.g., formal language for a letter to a friend) is one of the most common Band 5 errors.
| Letter Type | Salutation | Closing | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal (complaint, application) | Dear Sir/Madam, | Yours faithfully, | Academic, no contractions |
| Semi-formal (known professional) | Dear Mr/Ms [Name], | Yours sincerely, | Polite but personal |
| Informal (friend, family) | Dear [First name], | Best wishes / Love, | Casual, contractions ok |
Every letter must address all three bullet points in the task. Missing one bullet point is an automatic deduction in Task Achievement. Each bullet point should have at least 2–3 sentences devoted to it.
Task 1 is worth less than Task 2 (150 words vs 250 words, one-third vs two-thirds of the score). Many Kerala students spend 30 minutes on Task 1 and rush Task 2. This is a common Band 5 mistake. Set a timer for 20 minutes for Task 1, stop, and move to Task 2 regardless of whether Task 1 feels complete. A rushed Task 2 that covers all points at Band 6 is worth more than a perfect Task 1.
What is the maximum band possible without an overview paragraph in Academic Task 1?
Band 6, regardless of how well-written the rest of the response is. The overview identifying the 2-3 most important trends is the first thing examiners look for in Task Achievement.
How long should I spend on IELTS Writing Task 1?
Exactly 20 minutes. Task 1 is worth one-third of the Writing score versus two-thirds for Task 2, so spending 30 minutes on Task 1 and rushing Task 2 is a common Band 5 mistake.
What's the difference between Academic and General Training Task 1?
Academic Task 1 requires describing a graph, chart, table, map, or diagram. General Training Task 1 requires writing a 150-word formal, semi-formal, or informal letter instead.
What happens if I miss a bullet point in a GT Task 1 letter?
It's an automatic deduction in Task Achievement. Every letter must address all three bullet points in the task, with at least 2-3 sentences devoted to each.
What's the most common register mistake in letter writing?
Using formal language for an informal letter (or vice versa) — for example, writing "Dear Sir/Madam" and "Yours faithfully" to a friend instead of the casual register that letter requires.
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