IELTS · Articles · October 19, 2026 · 6 min read
IELTS Writing Task 1: charts, letters and sample answers
Writing Task 1 asks for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. In Academic you describe a chart, table, map or process. In General Training you write a letter. Task 1 is a third of your Writing band and Task 2 two thirds, so spending more than 20 minutes on Task 1 does not pay.
Four paragraphs for a chart
This structure works for line graphs, bar charts, pie charts and tables. Your opinion and the reasons for changes are not needed: the examiner expects a description of the data.
| Paragraph | What to write | How it might start |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | One sentence: what the chart shows, where and over what period. Paraphrase the task; do not copy it | The line graph illustrates how many… |
| Overview | Two or three main points without small figures: the overall trend, the highest and lowest, where lines cross. The most important paragraph for your band | Overall, …, while … |
| Details 1 | The first group of data with figures: one country, one line or the starting year | In 1990, Country A had the highest… |
| Details 2 | The second group, compared with the first. Use figures selectively to show what matters | Country C, by contrast, … |
Sample answer: car ownership in three countries
Task: “The line graph below shows the number of cars per 1,000 people in three countries between 1990 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.”
The data (cars per 1,000 people):
| Country | 1990 | 2005 | 2010 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country A | 420 | — | 520 (peak) | 480 |
| Country B | 180 | — | — | 490 |
| Country C | 40 | 110 | — | 350 |
The answer (187 words):
Introduction. The line graph illustrates how many cars there were for every 1,000 people in three countries over a 35-year period, from 1990 to 2025.
Overview. Overall, car ownership was higher at the end of the period than at the start in all three countries, but the patterns were very different. Country A levelled off and then declined, Country B grew so steadily that it finished slightly ahead of Country A, and Country C saw by far the fastest relative growth.
Details 1. In 1990, Country A had the highest rate, at 420 cars per 1,000 people. This figure rose to a peak of 520 in 2010, after which it fell gradually to 480 in 2025. Country B, by contrast, started at only 180 but climbed consistently throughout the period, reaching 490 by 2025 and overtaking Country A in the final year.
Details 2. Country C had the lowest level of car ownership in every year shown. Its figure was just 40 in 1990 and increased slowly at first, to 110 in 2005. After this, however, growth accelerated sharply, and by 2025 the number had reached 350, almost nine times the 1990 level.
Notice that the overview has no figures at all, and the details do not list numbers one after another: they group and compare them.
Overviews for other chart types
- Bar chart: look for the highest and lowest values and how they changed. Overall, the car and the bus became less popular over the 20 years, while the metro and cycling gained ground.
- Pie charts: look at the shares and which one became the largest. Overall, landfill went from being by far the main destination for household rubbish to only the second most common, as recycling became the leading method.
- Table: compare rows and pick out the extremes. Overall, internet speeds rose in all five countries, and Country E remained the slowest throughout.
Words for rises, falls and comparisons
| To describe | Words and structures |
|---|---|
| A rise | rise, increase, grow, climb; a rise in, an increase of 20% |
| A fall | fall, decrease, decline, drop; a fall from 60 to 45 |
| Peaks and lows | peak at, reach a peak of, hit a low of |
| No change | remain stable, stay at around, level off, fluctuate between 20 and 25 |
| Speed of change | sharply, dramatically, steadily, gradually, slightly |
| Comparison | twice as many as, the highest, followed by, compared with, whereas, by contrast |
| Proportions | a quarter, just under half, the largest share, accounted for 41%, made up a third |
| Approximation | about, around, roughly, just over, just under, nearly |
Do not repeat the same word in every sentence: switch between verb and noun (“rose sharply” and “a sharp rise”). It shows in Lexical Resource.
Processes and maps
- Process: describe the stages in order, almost always in the passive: the leaves are collected, then they are dried. Link the stages with first, next, after that, once, finally. In the overview, say how many stages there are and how the process begins and ends.
- Map: usually two maps of the same place in different years. Describe what was built, removed or changed: was replaced by, was converted into, was extended, to the north of. In the overview, give the main changes.
The General Training letter: tone and a sample
Who you are writing to decides the greeting, the sign-off and whether contractions are fine.
| Tone | Who to | Opening and closing |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | A company, an office, someone you do not know | Dear Sir or Madam, … Yours faithfully; no contractions like I’m |
| Semi-formal | Someone you know by surname: a manager, landlord, neighbour | Dear Mr Brown, … Yours sincerely or Kind regards |
| Informal | A friend or relative | Dear Sam, … Best wishes; contractions are fine |
Task: “You recently stayed at a hotel and were not happy with your stay. Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter: give details of your stay, explain what was wrong, say what you would like the manager to do.” Sample, 169 words without the greeting and sign-off:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to express my disappointment with my recent stay at your hotel, where I spent three nights, from 14 to 17 September, in a double room booked through your website.
Unfortunately, there were several problems during my visit. Firstly, although I had asked for a quiet room, I was given one directly above the hotel bar, and loud music continued until well after midnight every evening. Secondly, the air conditioning did not work properly, so the room was uncomfortably hot, despite two complaints to reception. Finally, breakfast, which was included in the price, had run out of most hot dishes by 8.30 each morning.
As a result, I did not get the relaxing break I had paid for. I would therefore be grateful if you could refund the cost of one night or offer me a discount on a future stay. I would also appreciate an explanation of the steps you will take to prevent these problems for other guests.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully, Alex Taylor
Common mistakes
- No overview, or explaining reasons for changes that are not on the chart. Without an overview, Task Achievement is usually capped at band 5.
- A list of figures with no grouping or comparison, which hurts Coherence and Cohesion.
- Copying the first sentence of the task. Copied words do not count towards your total and show none of your own vocabulary.
- Mixing tenses. Past tense for past years; will or is expected to for projections.
- A letter that misses one of the three bullet points, or uses the wrong tone for the reader.
For all four criteria in detail, see IELTS marking criteria.