Writing Task 1 of IELTS Academic Module requires candidates to look at a diagram or some data and to present the information in their own words. They are assessed on their ability to organize, present and possibly compare data, describe the stages of a process, describe an object or event, or explain how something works.

Candidates should write at least 150 words in Task 1 and are recommended to spend around 20 minutes on this task. It is important to remember that Writing Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1.

Writing Task 1 Assessment Criteria

Task Achievement

This criterion examines the overview and information that you provide, details of your content and the accuracy with which you have mentioned key features and illustrations.

Coherence and Cohesion

This criterion is concerned with the overall clarity and fluency of the message: how the response organises and links information, ideas and language. Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing. Cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example, logical connectors, pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential relationships between and within sentences clear.

Lexical Resource

This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the candidate has used and the accuracy and appropriacy of that use in terms of the specific task (for example, language of change or comparative expressions).

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

This criterion refers to the range and accurate use of the candidate’s grammatical resource as manifested in the candidate’s writing at the sentence level.