Many IELTS students learn ten different ways to paraphrase “the graph shows”. But is this a good idea? Is “the graph exhibits” correct?
Writing Task 1: ‘Educational problems’ table
Read my band 9 report about a table showing different educational problems in two schools. I’ve also included my scoring analysis and a homework task.
Writing Task 1: Correct the mistakes
Can you correct the mistakes in 5 sentences that describe information shown in a table?
Writing Task 1: ‘Food and oil’ graph
Read my model answer for a line graph task, and then look at the verb tenses that I used.
Writing Task 1: Eleven overview tips
Here are 11 tips on how to write a good overview paragraph in your task 1 report.
Writing Task 1: 10-year or 10 years?
Do you know when to use “10-year” and when to write “10 years”? What is the difference?
Writing Task 1: Salmon life cycle
The model answer in this lesson is quite short (only 154 words), but it is very precise and coherent, and deserves a band 9.
Writing Task 1: Paraphrasing with numbers
In this lesson, I describe the same information in 7 different ways. This paraphrasing exercise is a great way to improve your writing.
Writing Task 1: ‘Tourist attractions’ pie chart
Here’s another model answer for a pie chart description task. There’s a quick homework exercise too.
Writing Task 1: Using ‘to’ and ‘by’
What is the difference between “increased to” and “increased by”?
Writing Task 1: Waste graph
Can you fill the gaps to complete my band 9 description of a line graph?
Writing Task 1: The overview
An IELTS examiner recently told me that the most common mistake in students’ writing task 1 answers is that there is no overview.
Writing Task 1 Advice: Variety and repetition
In a task 1 report, how much variety do you need, and when is repetition acceptable?
Writing Task 1: Children’s sports
This lesson contains my band 9 description of two line graphs that give information about children’s sports.
Writing Task 1: Using a model sentence
In this lesson we practise using the structure of a ‘model’ sentence to write our own sentences.
Writing Task 1: Charts showing countries
Here are some things to remember when the graph or chart shows countries.
Writing Task 1: ‘Internet and video games’ chart
Read my model answer for a task that compares the time that young people spend on the Internet and playing video games.
Writing Task 1: Important little words
Try today’s exercise, which looks at the following important little words: at, in, on, to, for, by.
Writing Task 1: ‘Phone calls’ bar chart
Here’s another model answer for you to study. This time the task contains a bar chart about phone calls.
Writing Task 1: Overview, not conclusion
In this lesson I explain why you should write an ‘overview’ in your task 1 report, not a conclusion.
Academic Writing Task 1: Using the passive
IELTS students often use the passive wrongly in academic writing task 1. Would you make the same mistake?
Writing Task 1: ‘Living alone’ charts
Here’s another model answer for you to study. This time the task contains a bar chart and a pie chart.
Writing Task 1: Land degradation answer
Here’s my full answer for the ‘land degradation’ pie chart and table task.
Writing Task 1: Land degradation table
Can you write the final sentence of this model answer?
Writing Task 1: Land degradation pie chart
Read my short description of the ‘land degradation’ pie chart, and fill the gaps with the most appropriate words.
Writing Task 1: Land degradation overview
Can you finish my overview paragraph for this ‘pie chart and table’ task?
Writing Task 1: Land degradation task
Let’s start work on a new ‘pie chart and table’ task. Follow my advice to write the introduction.
Academic Writing Task 1: Different word forms
A good way to vary the language you use is by learning different forms of the same word e.g. rise (verb), a rise (noun).
Writing Task 1: Further education answer
Here’s my full answer for the further education bar chart task. Can you fill the gaps to complete it?
Writing Task 1: Four numbers in one sentence
In this lesson I’m going to compare four numbers in one sentence. Can you fill each gap with the correct number?