IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

Checklist

In order to achieve a higher score on academic writing task 1, here is the preparation checklist for it. Once you learn them, you can put a tick next to each point on the list. 

Task achievement

 I have learned

• To write between 150 and 200 words
• What the six types of questions are

In the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 test, you will be required to write a report about at least one of the following:

• A process
• A map
• A bar chart
• A pie chart
• A line graph
• A table
• Multiple graphs (mixed)

• How to complete the task according to the rubric
• How to write introductions (Practise paraphrasing the question to write introductions)
• How to identify and write an Overview and what to include in this paragraph. (at the beginning or end of the text and detailing the general trends)
• How to select key information, rather than describing everything.
• Not included any irrelevant information

Cohesion and Coherence 

I have learned

• how to write comparisons and not just list information
• to write my answer into paragraphs
• how to describe the striking features such as changes and trends (e.g. increase, decrease).

Lexical Resource & Grammatical Range and Accuracy 

I have learned

• how to avoid repetition of words and grammatical structures
• how to use the court tenses
• Language to describe changes
• Verbs and Adverbs
• Adjectives and nouns
• Prepositions and articles
• Time Phases
• Comparison Vocabulary
• The Pie chart vocabulary
• Improving your writing style and skills
• Joining two changes together
• Commenting on the data in a graph
• Essential language for making comparisons
• More comparative structures
• Advanced comparatives and linking devices
• Describing numbers and Numerical comparatives
• Ranking information
• Different sentences you can use alternatively
• how to cheek my writing for mistakes:
• Pluralisation
• Subject/verb agreement
• Word Formation
• Spelling
• Wrong Word
• Unnecessary words
• Missing Words (Missing subject, relative pronoun)
• Omission/incorrect inclusion of articles
• Missing third person ‘s’
• Word order

Additional checklist for Maps: 

I have learned

• how to write a maps overview
• how to write appropriate adverbials of location
• how to use a range of synonyms
• Improving your writing style and skills
  • Write sentences by using different tenses
• Grammar and vocabulary for maps
  • Noun phrases for maps
  • adverbials of location

Additional checklist for Processes:

 I have learned

• Understanding the purpose of the process and identifying the main stages
• Using appropriate verb tenses to describe each stage
• Describing the process using passive voice and active voice
• Using appropriate sequencing words and linking devices to show the order of the stages
• Adding extra details and explanations to enhance the description of the process
• Vocabulary and phrases for describing processes, such as “firstly, next, then, finally”
• Using transition signals to link stages together
• Using language to describe changes that occur during the process
• Using accurate and varied sentence structures to avoid repetition
• Proofreading and checking for grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement and verb tense consistency.

 In addition to the above points from the list, you should:

• Study many real test examples of each type.
• Understand why we do not write a conclusion for task 1.