Writing task 1

Session 1

Understand structure of writing task 1

Understand types of graphs and tables

Write the introduction & conclusion

Describe trends
Objectives of Writing task 1
In Task 1 candidates are asked to look at a diagram or table,
and to present the information in their own words. Depending
on the type of input and the task suggested candidates are
assessed on their ability to:
organise, present and possibly compare data
describe the stages ofa process or procedure
describe an object or event or sequence ofevents
explain how something works
 Types of graph
• bar / column chart
• pie chart
• table
• line chart
• flow chart
 Describing a line chart

Figure 1: Energy demand and energy available in Freedonia

Energy unit: 1 unit = 100 billion megajoules

8 8
7 7
6 6
Energy units

5 5
Energy demand
4 4
3 3 Energy available
2 2
1 1
0 0
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
(projected)
Describing a column chart

hours Unpaid work hours per week

60

50

40

30
Married women
20 Married men

10

0
Without children With 1-2 children With 3+ children

Source: AdJournal Australia

 Describing a table

Indicators Canada Japan Peru Zaire

Annual income per 11 100 15 760 160 130

person (in $US)
Life expectancy 76 78 51 47
Daily calorie supply
per person
Adult literacy rate 3 326 2 846 1 927 1 749
(%) 99 99 68 34
 Describing a pie chart

Females Males

Craft o r similar Other non-

4.5% Clerical & manual
Other no n-manual General labo urers Craft or
related 6%
11.0% 0.5% 5% similar
21%

Other manual
32.0% General
Clerical & labourers
related 2%
30%
Manegerial &
professional
38%

Other
manual
M anegerial & pro fessio nal
28%
22%
Describing a flow chart

Fluency in First Language

Education in first language

Teaching
Technology
Teaching aids
Literacy in first Teacher Training
language Teaching Strategies

Teacher’s Skill and Age Time

Experience

Security
Motivation

Learning
conditions
SUCCESSFUL LEARNING
Non-Indo-European first
language
Understanding different types of
Graphs and Table
Remember
Writing the Introduction
3 steps to begin
3 possible ways to start
1. Referring to the visual directly (This graph shows the
population of Alia in the 20th century)

2. Referring directly to the main message conveyed by the

visual. (There was a sharp increase in the population of
Alia in the 20th century.)

3. Combining the two above. (The graph shows that there

was a sharp increase in the population of Alia in the 20th
century.)
Practice 1
Answers
Academic vocabulary
Practice 2
E.g
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/eI/