Sample Task 1 Question


The graph below shows the amount of money spent on books in Germany, France, Italy,
and Austria between 1995 and 2005.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
 Write Task 1 in Four Simple Steps

1. Paraphrase the question

2. Write an overview sentence
3. Write two body paragraphs
4. Combine and check

1. Paraphrase the question

The first sentence should paraphrase the information in the question. Paraphrase means to
rewrite without changing the meaning.
 Example question: The graph below shows the amount of money spent on books in
Germany, France, Italy, and Austria between 1995 and 2005.
Paraphrased question: The chart depicts the quantity of money expended on
books in Germany, France, Italy, and Austria between 1995 and 2005.

All the information is the same. However, some key words were replaced with synonyms.
shows → depicts
amount of money → quantity of money
spent → expended
Some information, like the names of the countries and the years cannot be changed because it
is exact information and there are no suitable synonyms. This is okay.
The purpose of paraphrasing the question is to show the examiner that
you understand the question and know how to introduce the topic of your essay.

2. Write an overview sentence(s)

In an overview sentence, you will select the main features of the graph. You
should NEVER use exact numbers or figures in the overview.

To select the main features we need to find the most important information. To decide what is
most important, look at the graph above and think about this:
Describe this graph in 10 seconds or less.

What will you say? Thinking like this will help you to quickly choose the main features.
These are two main features from the graph above:
1. Spending increased in every country and increased the most in Austria.
2. Germans consistently spent the most on books.

Now we are ready to write our overview sentence(s).

Overall, spending on books increased in every country with the most

substantial growth happening in Austria. However, Germans continually spent
the most on books.

The overview is usually 1-2 sentences long. The overview can be a separate paragraph, or it
can be in the first paragraph.

3. Write two body paragraphs

In the two body paragraphs, write about the main trends using details (numbers/figures) from
the chart. Each trend should have it's own paragraph.
Main trend 1: spending increased in every country and increased the most in Austria.

Austria started 1995 with the lowest amount of money spent on books at only 30
million dollars but that figure grew to just over 70 million dollars by 2005. France
and Italy both had about 50 million dollars in book sales in 1995 and they both saw
book sales rise by 20 million and 12 million dollars, respectively.
Main trend 2: Germans consistently spent the most on books

Germany began 1995 with the greatest amount of money spent on books at 80
million dollars and maintained the top spot through 2005. Despite seeing a drop in
book sales from 1999 to 2003, book sales in Germany still increased by 15 million
dollars from 1995 to 2005.

4. Combine and check

Now, put it all together and write your task 1 response. Remember to write at least 150 words.

Model Essay
The chart depicts the quantity of money that people in Germany, France, Italy and Austria
spent on books between 1995 and 2005.
Overall, spending on books increased in every country with the most substantial growth
happening in Austria. However, Germans continually spent the most on books.
Austria started 1995 with the lowest amount of money spent on books at only 30 million
dollars but that figure grew to just over 70 million dollars by 2005. France and Italy both
had about 50 million dollars in book sales in 1995 and they both saw book sales rise by
20 million and 12 million dollars, respectively.
Germany began 1995 with the greatest amount of money spent on books at 80 million
dollars and maintained the top spot through 2005. Despite seeing a drop in book sales
from 1999 to 2003, book sales in Germany still increased by 15 million dollars from 1995
to 2005.
Check your grammar, spelling, and word count. The essay above is 157 words. The first
paragraph paraphrases the question. The second paragraph is the overview. The third and
fourth paragraphs are detail paragraphs. If you use this essay structure, you do not need to
write a conclusion.
Print out an official exam sheet (https://www.ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/general-writing-answer-
sheet-task-1.ashx?la=en)and practice writing on it. Practice several essays, and you will soon
be able to see how much space you need to write 150 words. This will save you time on the
real test and help you be more comfortable.

Use the words below when you are practicing writing a task 1 essay.

Words for describing change

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