Task 1: what examiners want
Learn what Academic Writing Task 1 asks for, how the four marking criteria separate band 6, 7 and 8, the four-paragraph structure examiners reward, and the habits that cap your band.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Describe the Task 1 format: visual types, the 150-word minimum, the 20-minute guideline and how it is weighted against Task 2
- Explain the four criteria (Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy) and what band 6, 7 and 8 look like in each
- Organise any Task 1 answer into four paragraphs: introduction, overview and two detail paragraphs
- Avoid the habits that cap your band: reasons, opinions, number lists, repeated conclusions, short answers and copied prompts
- Follow a reliable 20-minute plan from analysis to final check
The task in one minute
In Academic Writing Task 1 you are given one visual, or occasionally two linked visuals, and you write a short report about it. The visual can be:
- a line graph: change over time
- a bar chart: comparisons, sometimes over time
- one or more pie charts: proportions of a whole
- a table of figures
- a process diagram: the stages of a natural cycle or a manufacturing process
- one or two maps: how a place has changed or may change
- a combination, such as a line graph with a pie chart
The prompt is almost always worded like this:
The chart below shows the main methods of travel to work used by commuters in a city in 2004 and 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
The numbers you must know
| Task 1 | Task 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum length | 150 words | 250 words |
| Suggested time | about 20 minutes | about 40 minutes |
| Weighting | one third of your Writing band | two thirds of your Writing band |
| Main criterion | Task Achievement | Task Response |
The Writing test lasts 60 minutes in total, and you decide how to divide that time. Because Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, Task 1 must never eat into your Task 2 time. That is why you need a fast, reliable method for Task 1, and that is what this module gives you.
Who are you writing for?
Imagine a reader who cannot see the chart: a busy manager who wants the key facts in two minutes. Your report should give them the big picture first, then the evidence. It should not give them your opinions, your guesses about causes, or advice.
Decoding the instruction, phrase by phrase
| Words in the prompt | What the examiner expects | What it rules out |
|---|---|---|
Summarise the information | A condensed report of the most important information | Describing every bar, line or number |
by selecting | You decide what matters: the biggest, the smallest, the fastest change, the exceptions | Treating all the data as equally important |
and reporting the main features | A factual description of what the visual shows, including an overview of the main trends | Reasons, causes, opinions, recommendations and predictions that are not in the visual |
and make comparisons where relevant | Relating figures to each other: higher than, twice as many, overtook, while | Describing each category on its own, one after another |
Write at least 150 words | A complete answer, ideally around 170–190 words | Short answers (penalised) and very long ones (which steal time from Task 2) |
The four criteria
Every Task 1 answer is marked on four criteria, each worth 25% of your Task 1 band. Here is what each one means for Task 1 specifically.
1. Task Achievement (TA): did you do what was asked? The examiner checks that you have:
- given a clear overview of the main trends, differences or stages;
- selected the key features rather than reporting everything;
- supported those features with accurate figures;
- made comparisons;
- used an appropriate format: full sentences in paragraphs, a neutral tone, at least 150 words, and nothing that is not in the visual.
2. Coherence and Cohesion (CC): is it easy to follow? Logical organisation (similar data grouped together), a clear progression from overview to details, and linking that feels natural: while, whereas, by contrast, meanwhile, this figure, the former, which. Starting every sentence with Firstly, Secondly, Moreover, Furthermore sounds mechanical and tends to keep you at band 6.
3. Lexical Resource (LR): how precise is your vocabulary? The language of change and comparison (rose steadily, a marginal decline, overtook, accounted for, twice as many), accurate collocation (a sharp rise, not a strong rise), correct word forms and correct spelling. Writing increase ten times shows a narrow range.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): how wide and how accurate is your grammar? A mix of simple and complex sentences (relative clauses, -ing clauses, comparatives, the passive in process diagrams) and, crucially, how many sentences are completely error-free. In Task 1 the most frequent errors are articles, plural -s, subject–verb agreement, tenses and the prepositions by, to, from and at.
Band 6 vs 7 vs 8 (paraphrased from the public band descriptors)
| Criterion | Band 6 | Band 7 | Band 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
Task Achievement | Focuses on the task in an appropriate format. Key features are covered and an overview is attempted, supported with figures. Some details may be irrelevant, inaccurate, missing or excessive. | Covers the requirements. Presents a clear overview of the main trends, differences or stages. Key features are clearly highlighted, though they could be more fully illustrated. | Covers all requirements appropriately and sufficiently. Key features are skilfully selected, clearly presented and well illustrated with data. Only occasional omissions. |
Coherence and Cohesion | Generally organised, with clear overall progression. Linking works but may be mechanical, overused or faulty; referencing (it, this) may be unclear or repetitive. | Logically organised with clear progression throughout. A range of linking words and referencing is used flexibly, with some over- or under-use. | Logically sequenced and easy to follow; cohesion is well managed. Only occasional lapses. |
Lexical Resource | Adequate range for the task. Attempts less common words, but with some inaccuracy; some spelling or word-form errors that do not stop communication. | Enough range for some flexibility and precision. Uses less common items (plummet, a marginal rise) with awareness of collocation; occasional errors. | Wide range used fluently and precisely. Skilful use of uncommon items; rare errors in spelling, word choice or collocation. |
Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A mix of simple and complex sentences. Some errors in grammar and punctuation, but they rarely reduce communication. | A variety of complex structures. Frequent error-free sentences; good control, with a few errors. | A wide range of structures. The majority of sentences are error-free; only occasional slips. |
Method of travel
- 2004
- 2024
| Method of travel | 2004 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 42% | 30% |
| Bus | 25% | 22% |
| Metro rail | 8% | 27% |
| Bicycle | 10% | 6% |
| Walking | 15% | 15% |
The bar chart compares the proportions of commuters in a city who used five different methods of travelling to work in 2004 and 2024.
Overall, the car remained the most common way of getting to work, although its share fell considerably. The most striking change was the rapid growth of the metro rail system, which went from being the least used option to the second most popular.
In 2004, cars accounted for 42% of commuters, well ahead of buses at 25%. Walking was the third most common method (15%), while bicycles and the metro were the least popular choices, used by just 10% and 8% of workers respectively.
Twenty years later, the picture had changed noticeably. The share of commuters using the metro had more than tripled to 27%, overtaking buses, which declined slightly to 22%. Meanwhile, car use dropped by 12 percentage points to 30%, and the proportion of people cycling fell to only 6%. Walking was the only method whose share remained unchanged, at 15%.
- Introduction (1 sentence)Paraphrases the prompt: ‘shows’ becomes ‘compares’, ‘methods of travel’ becomes ‘methods of travelling’, and ‘proportions’ is added because the data are percentages. It says what, who/where and when. No figures yet.
- Overview (2 sentences, no numbers)Two big features: the car stayed on top but declined, and the metro rose spectacularly. Someone who reads only this paragraph already understands the chart. This is what ‘a clear overview’ means.
- Detail paragraph 1: the starting pointGroups all the 2004 information and ranks it. ‘respectively’ reports two figures in one efficient sentence. ‘well ahead of’ is a comparison, not just a number.
- Detail paragraph 2: the changesFocuses on what changed by 2024, using comparison language: ‘more than tripled’, ‘overtaking’, ‘dropped by … to …’, ‘the only method whose share remained unchanged’.
- Accuracy pointA fall from 42% to 30% is a drop of 12 percentage points, not 12%. (In relative terms it is a fall of almost 30%.) Examiners notice this precision.
- What is deliberately missingNo reasons (why people switched), no opinion about the metro, no recommendation, no conclusion repeating the introduction, and not all ten figures in a list. About 170 words: enough to be complete, short enough to leave time for Task 2.
The four-paragraph structure for every Task 1
- 1
Paragraph 1: Introduction (1 sentence)
Paraphrase what the visual shows: what is measured, where or who, and when. No figures and no trends yet. About 20–30 words.
The bar chart compares the proportions of commuters in a city who used five different methods of travelling to work in 2004 and 2024.
- 2
Paragraph 2: Overview (2 sentences)
The big picture: the main trends, the biggest and smallest categories, the most striking change. No specific numbers. Start with Overall, so the examiner finds it instantly.
This is the paragraph that unlocks band 7 for Task Achievement. Lesson 3 of this module is devoted to it.
- 3
Paragraph 3: Details, group 1 (3–4 sentences)
Key figures for one logical group of data, with comparisons. Choose a grouping that makes comparison easy:
- by time: the start of the period, then the end;
- by trend: categories that rose, then those that fell;
- by size: the biggest categories, then the smaller ones;
- by visual: chart 1, then chart 2;
- by stage or area: the first half of a process, then the second; the north of a town, then the south.
- 4
Paragraph 4: Details, group 2 (3–4 sentences)
The other group, written with the same care: selected figures, comparisons and accurate units. Then stop. Task 1 needs no conclusion. Some candidates put the overview at the end instead of second, which is acceptable, but placing it second is safer: it can never be forgotten if time runs out.
The chart below shows the main methods of travel to work used by commuters in a city in 2004 and 2024.
In 2004, 42% people used car, 25% used bus, 8% used metro rail, 10% used bicycle and 15% walked. In 2024, 30% used car, 22% used bus, 27% used metro rail, 6% used bicycle and 15% walked.
Metro rail increased very much because the government built new lines and it is more faster than bus. Car decreased because of traffic jam and high fuel price. In my opinion, more people should use metro rail because it is good for the environment.
In conclusion, the chart shows the main methods of travel to work used by commuters in a city in 2004 and 2024.
- Copied introductionThe first sentence is the prompt word for word. It shows nothing about the writer’s own language, and copied words may not be counted towards the 150.
- No overviewThe reader is never told the main features: that cars stayed most popular but declined, or that the metro rose dramatically. Without a clear overview, Task Achievement usually stays at band 5.
- Mechanical listingAll ten figures appear, but none are compared. ‘Recounting detail mechanically’ is a band 5 description in the descriptors.
- Invented reasons‘because the government built new lines’ and ‘because of traffic jam’ are not in the chart. Content that is not in the visual is irrelevant or inaccurate.
- Opinion‘In my opinion, more people should…’ belongs in a Task 2 essay, never in a Task 1 report.
- Repeated conclusionThe last paragraph repeats the copied introduction. It adds no information.
- Length and accuracyOnly about 120 words, so it is also penalised for being under 150. Errors: ‘42% people’ (42% of people), ‘used car’ (used cars / travelled by car), ‘more faster’ (faster), ‘traffic jam’ (traffic jams).
Listing vs selecting: the same information, two bands
Band 5: listing ✗
In 2024, 30% of people used car. 22% of people used bus. 27% of people used metro rail. 6% of people used bicycle. 15% of people walked. In 2004, 42% of people used car and 25% used bus.
Band 8: selecting and comparing ✓
Twenty years later, the share of commuters using the metro had more than tripled to 27%, overtaking buses, which declined slightly to 22%. Meanwhile, car use dropped by 12 percentage points to 30%, although cars remained the most popular option. Walking was the only method whose share was unchanged, at 15%.
The left version contains numbers but no information a reader can use: no comparison, no change, no ranking, and the same sentence pattern repeated five times. The right version uses the numbers as evidence for the changes that matter: tripled, overtaking, dropped by, unchanged. It also links ideas with ‘which’, ‘meanwhile’ and ‘although’. Same data, but roughly three bands apart in Task Achievement and Coherence.
Eight habits that cap your band
| Habit | Example | Why it costs marks | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|---|
Copying the prompt | The chart below shows the main methods of travel to work… | Copied words show nothing about your vocabulary and may not count towards the 150. | Paraphrase: The bar chart compares the proportions of commuters… |
Explaining reasons | Car use fell because petrol became expensive. | The chart shows no causes. Invented content is irrelevant or inaccurate (TA). | Report only what is shown: Car use fell from 42% to 30%. |
Giving opinions or advice | In my opinion, everyone should use the metro. | Task 1 is a neutral report. Opinions are irrelevant (TA). | Keep a neutral, factual tone from start to finish. |
Listing every number | 42% used cars, 25% used buses, 8% used the metro… | Mechanical recounting with no selection or comparison is a band 5 feature. | Select key figures and connect them: overtook, more than tripled, twice as many. |
No overview | Details only, from the first figure to the last | Without a clear overview, Task Achievement rarely goes above band 5. | Write a two-sentence overview straight after the introduction. |
A conclusion that repeats the introduction | In conclusion, the chart shows the methods of travel… | It adds no information and wastes words and time. | No conclusion is needed. Use spare time to check accuracy. |
Writing under 150 words | A 130-word answer | Short answers are penalised in Task Achievement. | Aim for 170–190 words. |
Bullet points or notes | • Car: 42% → 30% | Notes are an inappropriate format for a written report. | Full sentences in paragraphs. |
Check your understanding
7 questions- 1
What is the minimum length for Academic Writing Task 1?
- 2
How do the two Writing tasks contribute to your Writing band?
- 3
A candidate writes: “Car use fell because fuel became more expensive.” The chart shows only percentages of commuters. What is the problem?
- 4
Match each criterion to what it mainly checks.
Task AchievementCoherence and CohesionLexical ResourceGrammatical Range and Accuracy - 5
Put the four paragraphs of a Task 1 answer in the recommended order.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Detail paragraph 1: the first logical group of key figures
- 2Overview: the main trends or biggest differences, with no specific numbers
- 3Introduction: paraphrase what the visual shows, where and when
- 4Detail paragraph 2: the second logical group of key figures
- 6
Choose TWO things that would cost you marks in Task 1.
Select 2.
- 7
According to the band descriptors, what does a band 7 response need that a band 6 response may lack?
Answer every question to check.
Your 20-minute plan
- 1
Minutes 0–3: Analyse
Read the prompt and the visual. Ask: what is measured, where/who, when, in what units (%, thousands, tonnes?), and which categories. Is there a time period (change language) or a single moment (comparison language)? Decide your tenses now.
- 2
Minutes 3–5: Find the overview and plan
Look for two or three big features: the overall direction, the highest and lowest, the most striking change. Then decide how to split the details into two paragraphs and mark the 4–6 figures you will use in each.
- 3
Minutes 5–8: Introduction and overview
One paraphrased sentence, then two overview sentences. These are the paragraphs examiners read most carefully, so write them first and write them well.
- 4
Minutes 8–17: Two detail paragraphs
Three or four sentences each. Every figure should support a comparison or a change. Vary your structures: a relative clause, an -ing clause, a comparative.
- 5
Minutes 17–20: Check
Word count (170+ is comfortable). Every number against the visual. Units (% vs percentage points, thousands, millions). by vs to. Tenses. Articles and plural -s. Subject–verb agreement (the number of cars has).
Year
- Science Museum
- History Museum
- Art Gallery
| Year | Science Museum | History Museum | Art Gallery |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 420 thousand | 600 thousand | 250 thousand |
| 2018 | 460 thousand | 580 thousand | 270 thousand |
| 2020 | 150 thousand | 210 thousand | 90 thousand |
| 2022 | 380 thousand | 400 thousand | 260 thousand |
| 2024 | 520 thousand | 450 thousand | 300 thousand |
Practice: identify the key features
7 questions- 1
Choose TWO features that belong in the overview of the museum graph.
Select 2.
- 2
Refer to the museum line graph above.
The History Museum attracted more visitors in 2024 than in 2016.
- 3
Refer to the museum line graph above.
The Art Gallery had the fewest visitors in every year shown.
- 4
In 2024, the Science Museum received visitors. (Write the figure.)
- 5
Which sentence should be left out of your answer?
- 6
Which is the most logical way to group the details into two body paragraphs?
- 7
Which is the best overview?
Answer every question to check.
Writing Task 1 practice
150+ words · 20 minThe chart below shows the percentage of students at one university who regularly used five different sources of information for their assignments in 2014 and 2024.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Source of information
- 2014
- 2024
| Source of information | 2014 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Printed books | 78% | 41% |
| Online journals | 45% | 70% |
| General websites | 62% | 75% |
| Video lectures | 20% | 58% |
| AI chatbots | 0% | 64% |
Self-check before submitting
- ☐ Introduction: one sentence that paraphrases the prompt, with no copied phrases and no figures
- ☐ Overview: a separate paragraph starting ‘Overall,’ with two main features and no specific numbers
- ☐ Two detail paragraphs, grouped logically (for example 2014, then 2024 and the changes)
- ☐ Every figure checked against the chart, with % used correctly
- ☐ At least three comparisons (for example ‘almost halved’, ‘overtook’, ‘the most popular’)
- ☐ No reasons, opinions or recommendations
- ☐ No conclusion repeating the introduction
- ☐ At least 150 words (aim for 170–190)
Final quiz: what examiners want
9 questions- 1
How long should you spend on Task 1?
- 2
What belongs in the introduction?
- 3
Choose THREE acceptable ways to group the two detail paragraphs.
Select 3.
- 4
The four Task 1 criteria are Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical and Accuracy.
- 5
Find and correct the mistake:
In 2004, 42% people used car to go to work.
- 6
Find and correct the mistake:
Between 2004 and 2024, car use decreased 12 percentage points.
- 7
You have written 145 words and have 2 minutes left. What is the best thing to do?
- 8
Match each problem to the criterion it mainly affects.
No overview of the main trendsEvery sentence starts with ‘Firstly’, ‘Secondly’ or ‘Moreover’Spelling errors such as ‘goverment’ and ‘populer’Missing articles and wrong verb tenses - 9
Which sentence would work best as part of an overview for the commuting chart?
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Keep your progress
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