IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Tips

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Tips

IELTS academic exam has two tasks in writing module.

Task 1 of the IELTS academic exam consists of one of a graph, table, chart or diagram. In this task, the candidates are supposed to describe, summarise and explain the information. The explanation differs according to the type of data provided in the question.

1. For a graph, table and charts, it is required to explain the data.

2. For a picture, it may be required, either to detail the process or elaborate the data.

In this article we will look into details about

• how to start the writing task

• how to conclude the writing task and

• what to include in the body of the writing task and

  we will learn all this through an example. This writing tutorial is only dedicated to help in learning about how to write IELTS Academic writing Task 1.

NOTE : The most important part to be considered while writing is that, write the answer in such a way by supposing that the person who is reading the answer does not have the pictures or graphs in front of him. So he should be able to guess the picture or graph by reading the answer text only.

The question through which we will learn is given below :

The diagram below shows how a dredger can remove mud from the bottom of canals. The table compares features of the canal dredger with those of a coastal dredger.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

After reading the question we deduce that as per the question statement, there will be two things in consideration, one is a table and other one is a picture. The table compares two types of dredgers and the picture shows the mechanism by which by which mud can be removed from the bottom of canals using a dredger.

To start any academy writing task, the first paragraph will only contain the data which is given in the question. Do not take any data from the table or the picture. We will only write the question, but in our own words and that is sufficient to get 7 bands for introductory paragraph. So, in this example remember that for any type of information given in the academic task 1, just remember to use your own words with meaning similar to words in the question . As in this question we have a picture so we will write pictorial representation then write what the question says and then for the table we will use the word tabular data. Now let’s see how we complete the first paragraph.

Here is the sentence-to-sentence breakup of making the introductory paragraph from the question itself. This is great way to get 7 or more bands.

Actual Question line	Paraphrased Answer line
The diagram below shows	The pictorial representation describes
how a dredger can remove mud	working mechanism of a dredger during the silt removal task
from the bottom of canals.	from ground level of canals.
The table compares features of the canal dredger with those of a coastal dredger.	Also, the comparison of canal and coastal dredger has been shown with the help of tabular data.

After completing the first paragraph in this way, now we will look into how to write the body paragraphs. In this question, we have two figures one is a picture and other one is a table. So, we will make two separate paragraphs for both of them. In first paragraph, we will give details about the picture and in the second paragraph, we will give details about the table. let us see what to include in the body paragraph for giving details from the picture. The first thing to be taken care of is that, do not leave any details from the picture without being included in the answer or leave out minute details. It means all the details have to be included. First of all we will see what we see in the picture.

1. A dredger

2. Canal

3. Boat

4. Tube

5. Venice

6. Mud

7. Cleaning device

Now let’s see how to make the first body paragraph for this question. The first paragraph will contain details only from the picture. The main thing in the picture is the dredger. Remember that , whatever text is written on the picture we are not going to miss most of that. We start the paragraph by writing, “to begin with”. The sequence of information is formed in the way starting with, what is being done and then we will describe how it is being done and try not to use the words from the text but use synonyms for those words so as to get numbers for vocabulary. The picture below details about how to include details from the picture and convert them to sentences.

The second paragraph will contain explanation about the data given in the table so as we can see from the table the table is comparing two types of dredgers. Let’s see how we convert that table of information into a paragraph. And we will apply the same rules as in paragraph 1 , that is try not to miss any information from the table to be included in the paragraph.

In the last paragraph we only include some significant information from the data given in the question. Significant thing can be either the highest numbers or the lowest numbers, any peaks, any downs, any major changes etc. As per this question it was given that both the canal and coastal dredger do the same task but the coastal dredger is often bigger size and used in large larger areas and canal dredger is smaller in size and used in smaller areas.

We will see two ways in which we can write last paragraph. The first method is given below which compares the two types of dredgers.

“

The dredging by means of a canal dredger is almost similar to the process done by a coastal dredger. But, the only difference is that the scale of all the parts involved is of lower level.

”

The second method for last paragraph gives details about the new technology to be used for cleaning the canals in Venice.

“

Overall, the new dredging technology will result in decrease in hassles in canal cleaning process, because of no need of water to be drained from them,

”

Complete Answer :

The pictorial representation describes working mechanism of a dredger during the silt removal task from ground level of canals. Also, the comparison of canal and coastal dredger has been shown with the help of tabular data.

 

To begin with, the graphic shows the implementation of a new dredging technology, in the city of Venice, to remove loose mud from ground level of canals and sea floor. This new invention will enable mud removal without having to remove all water from the canals in the upcoming years. The machinery involves a boat with hydraulic arms, which can help the lowering of cleaning device to the canal floor. The silt removed is carried over to the shuttle boat via a tube. The boat with the loaded mud is towed out of the city for dumping.

 

Statistically, the hull length of a coastal dredger is almost four times than that of a canal dredger which is just of 22 meters whereas its hull breadth is about double the size of a coastal one. Moreover, as per requirement, the depth of a coastal dredger is 35 meters in comparison to just 1.87 meters in case of the one needed for canal.

 

The dredging by means of a canal dredger is almost similar to the process done by a coastal dredger. But, the only difference is that the scale of all the parts involved is of lower level.

Bands : 7.0