It is recommended to finish task 1 within 20 minutes.

In the question we get the visual and a statement explaining what is shown in the visual.

In order to do well in task 1 you need to do following skills:

1. Select, organize and compare information
2. Describe stages of a process
3. Describe object or place
4. Describe how something works

Type of visuals

Following are the type of visuals we get in task 1:

1. Bar chart
2. Pie chart – in pie chat whole circle represent the 100% of something. pie chart usually use for comparison
3. Line graph – this use to show changes over time
4. Table - table represent data using combination of text and numbers
5. Diagram – this have a combination of text and visuals. Diagrams progress from left to right (top to bottom)
6. Flow chart – use to represent how something works or produce. Using arrows we can identify the direction
of progress. Using title of the flow chart we can identify the topic
7. Map – we need to describe location of certain places in relation to other places

Assessment criteria

1. Cohesion and coherence – this means your ability to write clear and organize answer that is easy for
reader to follow and easy to understand. And also we need to organize the essay into paragraph group
information logically. Try to make ideas clear in sentence and between sentences. This can be done using
variety of linking words and phrases.
2. Lexical resource – use of range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately. This include the correct
spelling and the words are in correct form.
3. Grammatical range and accuracy – use of range of grammar accurately and appropriately. This also
include the punctuation.
4. Task achievement – accurately, appropriately, relevantly written the answer. And it should have minimum
of 150 words. We should paraphrase the first paragraph of the question without copying it. We also need
to summarize the visual using good a overview sentence. The overview need to include correct data or
labels from the visuals.
Sample answer:

The tables give information about the changes in different types of transport used by commt1ters over a ten year
period. Overall, the use of vehicles such as cars, trucks and vans decreased noticeably whereas walking and
using bicycles became more popular.
 
Looking at 2004, cars, trucks and vans were used by 74.6% of people for transport. This easily outranked the
train, which was the next most popular mode of transport with 6. 7%. In this year, walking and cycling were used
by 3.9% and 1.2 % of commuters respectively.
 
In contrast, moving forward to 2014, the use of cars, trucks and vans had declined significantly by 9.1%. On the
other hand, a higher percentage of people used bicycles (6.5%) in 2014, demonstrating a 5.3% rise, while
travelling on foot had increased to 8%. Other forms of transport, namely tram, ferry, taxi and motor bike, had all
stayed below 1% and changed little. Additionally, the percentage of people who did not travel only fell slightly to 
7.2%

Task response:

1. Question has been paraphrased

2. Visuals has been summarized and introduced using the word overall. Then it is followed by the type of
transport dropping the popularity and the type of transport increased the popularity
3. Paragraph two describe the key features of the first paragraph. Paragraph three describe the key feature
of the second table.
4. Both the body paragraphs has good support from the use of percentages.
5. It also meet the words limit
 
Coherence and cohesion

1. Write divide the answer into three sentences

2. Used linking words like “This easily”, “on the other hand”, “additionally”

Lexical resource:

Writer used wide range of vocabulary in the answer and use correct spelling ad correct form:
Grammatical Range:

1. Write has use complex sentences with using relative clauses with “which”, “also” and subordinate clauses
“whereas” and “while”
2. Use different of past tenses “became”, “was”, “had increased”, “did not travel only fell”
3. There is not error in the punctuation also

Step to do in order to Understanding the task 1 question:

First and last sentences in the question are the instructions. Other than the instructions there is always two other
paragraphs. First paragraph gives the information about the visuals. Second paragraph tell you what to write
about.

Step 1: Read the instruction carefully

Step 2: Check the time that you begin writing task 1 and allow 20 minutes only
Step 3: Read the first paragraph and quickly scan the visual.
Step 4: Read the second paragraph and underline the verbs.
Step 5: write you response in at least 150 words
Writing the introduction

We have to write one or two sentences introduce general topic of the visuals and explain the type of visual it
shows.

Example:

Using paraphrasing we shows the examiner that we understood the information correctly and we can use variety
of vocabulary and grammar.
Analyzing and describing key features

It is important to take time to analyze the information in order to identify key features. If you miss a key feature it
will affect your score.

To analyze the visual first ask following question:

1. Which places, people or things is the information about
2. How many different things being compared
3. What units are used to show the amounts, numbers or proportions
4. What period of time does the visual refer to? (this question help to identify what tense to use for example
past tense, present perfect or future)
Analyze to Identify overview and key features

1. Overview is the main trend

2. Key features are the other important details in the visual

1. Overview:

“Overall, it can be seen that the general trends was upward, with all countries showing and increase in the totals
of atomic energy produced”

2. Key features:

To identify key features we need to ask following two questions:

1) Which information is the most important?
2) What is the biggest or smallest changes shown in the visual?
Writing the Overview

Overview usually one or two sentences.

Overview describe the main trend or trends in the visuals.

We can include the overview at the after the introduction or at the end.

It is better include overview at the beginning just in case you run out of time.

When analyzing the graph at the beginning it is important to identify main trend or trends to include in the
overview.

Example overview:

“Overall, it can be seen that the use of petroleum and coal fell slightly over the period. On the other hand, there is
were slight increase in the use of natural gas and nuclear energy”
Describe the information

We have to describe following information in the answer:

1. Trends – changes over time

2. Comparison – similarities and differences

Describing trends

We can see trends in line graphs, charts or in tables.

We have mention the above trends in the overview, but we have to more describe these data in the body.

When we describe the information in the visual we need to use data.

“The consumption of petroleum peaked at over 50% in 1973 and gradually declined over next 12 years. Since
1985, global petroleum consumption has remained stable at 40%”
“For the first decade after 1970, the rate of nuclear energy consumption was unchanged at around 5% worldwide.
After 1980, it slowly increased, and since 1995, it has plateaued at 12%”

In the above two pictures we used past tense for describe the change finished happened and present perfect to
describe change started in past and currently happening.

To increase cohesion we used the reference “it” rather than repeating the same word.

Doing Comparison

In overview we try to group the data to make a statement.

“The influence of Latin and French on English is exactly the same at 29°/o, and Germanic languages have
influenced English almost as much at 26°/o. Together, these three language groups make up more than 80% of
the origins of English”

In this sentence we include the data. We have change the noun increse to verb

“In contrast, Greek, other languages and proper names have had a significantly  smaller influence on the origins
of English, at 6% , 6% and 4% respectively”

We started the sentence from the lining word.

Select and group information

This means we have that we have to transfer information in given visually into written summary. We have to do
more than list information we have to identify, present, highlight and illustrate the important features of the visual.
And organize the data in the visual in a logical way.

Example:

From the tile of the question and the visual we can identify three main important part of the process. That is
production, storage, distribution.

We can start from the left. Usually flow chart start from left, and also arrows also help us to identify the direction.
And we can group the followign three as the start.