IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

IELTS Writing Task 1 samples: 650+ Academic questions with Band 8 answers

IELTS Writing Task 1 practice for the Academic test: every visual in our bank, from bar charts and line graphs to maps and processes, redrawn with its data so you can check each figure, with a Band 8 sample answer, the overview it needs and the language for that chart type.
  • 650+ samples
  • 7 chart types
  • Charts redrawn with data
  • Band 8

Browse by chart type

Video lesson

Watch: IELTS Writing Task 1 Mixed Charts: Two Visuals, One Report

Learn how to describe two visuals in one IELTS Writing Task 1 report. Read both charts, find their link, write one overview, organise your paragraphs, and study a full model answer using household waste and recycling data.

112 samples

Line graphs

  • →Overview first: the overall direction of each line and which was highest.
  • →Group lines that move together instead of describing each one in turn.
  • →Give the start and end figures plus the peak or low point, not every value.

164 samples

Bar charts

  • →Compare the biggest and smallest bars before anything else.
  • →If the bars show years, describe change; if they show places, describe rank.
  • →Round sensibly and say 'just over' or 'nearly' rather than guessing decimals.

61 samples

Pie charts

  • →Name the largest and smallest shares in the overview.
  • →Use proportion language: a quarter, just under half, the majority.
  • →With two pies, compare the same slice across both.

123 samples

Tables

  • →Tables hide the trend: find the highest, lowest and biggest change yourself.
  • →Select; do not list every cell.
  • →Organise paragraphs by row or by column, whichever gives the clearer comparison.

68 samples

Mixed charts

  • →Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals.
  • →Give each visual its own detail paragraph.
  • →Point out where one chart explains the other.

85 samples

Process diagrams

  • →Say how many stages there are and where the process starts and ends.
  • →Use the passive and sequencers: first, after this, once, finally.
  • →Keep every stage; a missing step costs task achievement.

64 samples

Maps

  • →Overview: how much the area changed and what stayed the same.
  • →Use location language: to the north of, adjacent to, replaced by.
  • →Group changes by area or by type, such as housing, roads and green space.

Frequently asked questions

How do I practise IELTS Writing Task 1?+

Pick one chart type at a time. Spend two minutes finding the overview (the biggest trend or contrast), write the report in 20 minutes, then compare it with the Band 8 sample answer for the same chart: did you select the same key features and figures?

How many words and how long for Task 1?+

At least 150 words in about 20 minutes. 170 to 200 words is the safe range; leave 40 minutes for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A missing or unclear overview is the most common reason a report stays below Band 7.

Which Task 1 chart types come up?+

Line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, process diagrams, maps and mixed charts that combine two of them. Each type has its own section below with tips and sample answers.

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy