Struggling with IELTS Academic Writing Task 1? You get just 20 minutes to describe a visual in at least 150 words, and recognising the question type is half the battle. Here are the seven report types every IELTS candidate must master.
7 IELTS Task 1 Question Types
Line Graph – describe trends over time: rises, falls, peaks and plateaus.
Bar Chart – compare categories and group similar bars together.
Pie Chart – compare proportions using percentages and fractions.
Table – select key figures; never list every number.
Process Diagram – explain each stage in sequence using the passive voice.
Map – describe how a place changed, using location language.
Mixed Charts – link two visuals and highlight connections.
The Band 7+ Report Structure
Introduction: paraphrase the question.
Overall: summarise the main trends – examiners look for this first.
2 Body paragraphs: support with accurate data and comparisons.
To Conclude (non-mandatory): Any other unique trend, not written in Overall
Never give opinions. Examiners assess Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
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