Fastrack

IELTS Academic
Writing Task 1

Essay Planning
Template
By Fastrack Education
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How to use this template

Analyse a new task using the steps below.

The questions in this template will help you decide what you should focus on.

Each task is different and some of the questions may not be relevant to your task. Feel
free to skip them.

Once you get used to this template and memorise main steps, you will be able to plan
your essay on a clean sheet on paper.

Good luck!

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Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/FastrackEducation
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Charts/Tables with or without Dates

Steps What you need to do

Step 1
Carefully read the task and the information on the chart
Read the task

Step 2 Find the main groups of data

Select and
report the What are the main groups of data on the chart?
main features

You must mention all the main groups of data in your essay.

Identify the main trends

What trend best describes each group of data? (if

applicable)

Growing – Declining - Fluctuating - Small changes

Periods of growth - Periods of decline

Select the key features

Find the most important features of the chart:

The highest figures

The lowest figures

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The peaks (high points)

The troughs (low points)

The biggest changes/differences

The smallest changes/differences

Intersections (where two lines cross each other)

Describe the key features you have selected in your body

paragraphs and support your description with figures.

Step 3 Find the key similarities and differences

Structure your What will be your essay structure?

essay Decide how you will group the data into body paragraphs.

Body paragraph 1

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3 (if any)

Step 4 Prepare a one or two sentence overview of the information
on the chart
Prepare an
overview What is the most important thing you have learned from this
chart?

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Maps

Steps What you need to do

Step 1
Carefully read the task and the information on the maps
Read the task

Step 2 Find the main groups of data

Select and
report the What are the most important objects on the maps?
main features

You must mention all the main objects in your essay.

Identify the main changes

Are there new objects on the map?

Have any objects been demolished/removed?

Have any objects been extended/improved?

Have any objects been converted into something else?

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Have any objects stayed the same?

Read the task again. What are the most important changes
among those you have chosen? Describe them in your
essay.

Step 3 Find the key similarities and differences

Structure your What will be your essay structure?

essay Decide how you will group the data into body paragraphs.

Body paragraph 1

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3 (if any)

Step 4 Prepare a one or two sentence overview of the main
changes
Prepare an
overview What are the most important changes you see on the maps?

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Diagram

Steps What you need to do

Step 1
Carefully read the task and the information on the diagram
Read the task

Step 2 Find the main groups of data

Select and
report the How many stages are there on the diagram?
main features
What are these stages?

Describe each stage in your essay.

Identify the main processes

What are the key objects on the diagram?

What are the key processes at each stage?

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Step 3 Find the key similarities and differences

Structure your What will be your essay structure?

essay Decide how you will group the data into body paragraphs.

Body paragraph 1

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3 (if any)

Step 4 Prepare a one or two sentence overview of the process

Prepare an
overview Summarise the process in one or two sentences

Here you may find it helpful to compare what you had at

the very beginning and the very end of the process, and
what ingredients/tools were required.

IELTS Preparation Courses: https://fastrackedu.co.uk/ielts-preparation-courses

Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/FastrackEducation