WRITING LESSON 4: Introduction to Writing Task 1

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

● understand the format of the IELTS Writing Tasks 1;
● understand the structure of Writing Task 1 Reports;
● apply the language of describing changes in writing a report for a dynamic chart.

A Getting to know IELTS Writing Task 1

❶ Writing Task 1 - Types of charts
In groups of 3-4, guess and match the types of reports with examples according to the
definitions given in the table. You will have 10 minutes.

1. Graphs that indicate Trends

With these graphs, trends will be shown throughout the time frame. If there are more than

two periods, the main features of the graph will be trends.

2. Graphs that indicate Comparison

In these graphs, time is not mentioned. Data will be examined over a course of time.

3. Mixed Charts

The test taker will be presented with 2 types of charts.

4. Process

In this type of graph, the steps of a process will be numbered or unnumbered.

5. Maps

In this type of chart, maps are given to test takers to describe, summarize and compare.

→ Match the types of reports with examples below

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 1

 ____________
_____________

_____________ _____________

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 2

 _____________ ____________

_____________

B Writing an IELTS Task 1 Report

➋ Look at the writing sample of task 1 below. In pairs, build a structure of the reports. Use the

table if necessary.

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 3

Task: The table below shows the average weekly salaries of men and of women working in
different occupations.
Weekly salary by occupation in 2015

Men Women

Technicians $1400 $900

Service workers $1300 $950

Professionals $2000 $1900

Clerical workers $1350 $1000

Manual laborers $1100 $850

Sample:
The table compares the average weekly salary of men and women working in different types of
jobs in 2015.
→ ____________
Overall, it is clear that men were paid substantially more per week than women in most jobs.
Meanwhile, professionals were the highest-paid jobs for both genders, while manual laborers
were the lowest paid.
→ ____________
In 2015, the highest-paid positions for men were in professional jobs, receiving a weekly salary of
$2000. Technicians received the second highest weekly salaries, at around $1400, while those
working in clerical and administrative positions received around $1350. Male service workers
were paid around $1300 a week, while manual laborers received around $1100.
→ ____________
Women, on the other hand, typically received lower salaries for all positions. Professionals were
paid $1900 a week, which was almost double that of the second highest-paid position of
administrative and clerical workers, at $1000. Female service workers were paid $950 a week,
technicians $900, and manual laborers $850.
→ ____________

Key Takeaway Structure of a task 1 report

Introduction (Mở bài) Introduce the topic that will be described in the writing.

Overview Present the main features and trends of the chart/graph.

(Phần tổng quát)
Body Paragraph 1 Go into details and significant data of the graph.
(Thân bài 1)

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 4

 Body Paragraph 2 Go into details and significant data of the graph.
(Thân bài 2)

➌ Marking criteria & Target for 5.5 Writing Task 1

➡ Candidates will be assessed on a scale from 0 to 9 based on 4 criteria.
● Task Achievement: how well you answer the question.

● Coherence & Cohesion: how well your text is structured.

● Lexical Resource: how good your vocabulary is.

● Grammatical Range & Accuracy: how good your grammar is.

Key Takeaway Target 5.5 for Writing Task 1

Task Achievement • Meet the requirements of the task (have a summary and

comparison).

• An overview is included.

• Select outstanding features in the chart and use accurate

data to describe the chart.

Coherence & ● Use linking words when needed.

Cohesion ● Use referencing effectively with no mistakes.
Lexical Resource ● Avoid using incorrect word formation and spelling.

● Can paraphrase the sentence at a simple level.

● Can use simple and complex structure, the produced
Grammatical Range
sentences are clear and easy for readers to understand
& Accuracy

C Language to describe Trends

❶ Vocabulary Build: Describing trends & Adverbs of degree and speed
Activity 1: Find the vocabulary to describe changes in the table and present to the class.
→ What words/ phrases would you use to describe these trends? Pay attention to
word forms

reach a peak/ high of - increase/ increment - drop - stay stable/ stay unchanged - rise - hit a low -

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 5

 reach the lowest point - grow/growth - go up - remain - upward trend - decline - downward trend -
fluctuate/fluctuation - hit the highest point - decrease - hit the lowest point

Trends Verbs Nouns

→ increase = rise = go up = increase = rise = growth
grow

→ - decrease = fall =
decrease = fall = drop = go drop = decline =
down = decline decline

→ -
stay unchanged, remain the
same, remain stable

→ fluctuate - fluctuation =
volatility

→ reach a peak/ a high of

→ reach the lowest point = hit the lowest point = sink to a low

Activity 2: Complete the table below:

Adverbs of degree and speed
A small change over a long period A fast change over a short period
Verb/ Noun/ Adjective Adverb Verb/ Noun/ Adjective Adverb
- gradual ______ - quick ______
- slight ______ - swift ______
- slow ______ - drastic ______
- steady ______ - rapid ______
- moderate ______ - drama ______
- mini ______ - sharp ______

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 6

 - margin ______ - steep ______
______ - sudden ______
- marked

Activity 3: In pairs, match the descriptions with each period (starts from A to N). You will have
5 minutes.

1. A-C a. remained stable

2. C-D b. increased substantially
3. D-E c. slow fall
4. E-G d. reached a peak
5. G e. dropped significantly
6. G-L f. rose gradually
7. J g. hit the lowest point
8. L-N h. fluctuation
Example: 1 - f
2-____ 3-____ 4-____ 5-_____ 6-
____ 7-____ 8-____

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Activity 4: In pairs, fill in the passage with the suitable words/ phrases (from Activity 3 or
your
own vocabulary) to describe the chart. Then underline structures used in the passage to
describe trends.

In the following year, the figure (0) reached a peak at 6.5 million before (1)___________ to 3.5

million in 1987. (a) There was a (2)_________ in the number Of college students between 1987

and 1990. (b) Afterward, a (3) __________ of 1 million was recorded which left a total of under 3

million students in Hanoi in 1991. (c) The year 1992 (witness) (4)__________ a recovery back to

4 million students, but the number of university students then (5)___________to 3 million by the

end of the period.

Key Takeaway: Languages to describe changes

Structure Example

S + saw/witnessed/underwent/experienced The year 2016 experienced a significant

+ a/an + adj + N + Time. increase of 500 in the number of TCE
students.
Time + witnessed/experienced + a/an + adj The number of TCE students witnessed a
+ N + in + S. significant increase of 500 in 2016.
A/ an + adj + N + be + recorded/ seen/ A significant increase of 500 was
observed + in + S + Time. recorded in the number of criminals in
2005.
Activity 5: Rewrite the following sentences using 3 given structures.
Example: The sales slightly dip to 1700 in 2009.

� A slight dip was recorded/seen/observed in the sales in 2009.

� The year 2009 witnessed a slight dip in the sales.

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 � The sales in 2009 underwent a slight deep to 1700.
1. There was a slight increase in the money spent on cars in 2001.
➔
➔
➔
2. The number of passengers declined significantly in March.

�
3. The figure for/of cars increased sharply in the first two decades.
➔
➔
➔
4. The production of goods dramatically fell by 520,000 unit. 600.000 - 80.000
➔
➔
➔
5. Newspaper circulation during 1990s fluctuated considerably.

❷ Verbs of prediction
Activity 1: Underline the four verbs in the box below that cannot be used to indicate prediction in
an IELTS Writing
Predict Prophecy Forecast Assume Foretell
project Estimate Anticipate Expect Foresee

Activity 2: Rewrite sentences 1-8 below using the given structure.

Example: It is predicted that computer sales will account for 20 per cent of the total

… are predicted…

Computer sales are predicted to account for 20 per cent of the total.

Computer sales are predicted to/are projected to/are expected to/are anticipated to/are estimated.

It is predicted that/It is projected that……………

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 9

 1. By the year 2030, the population will have increased to nearly 70 million.

… it is estimated …

the population is predicted to increase to nearly/about/approximately 70 million in 2030,

2. Spectator numbers will be rising dramatically towards the end of the year.

… are forecast…

3. The projected sales next month will be lower than this month.

4. It is forecast that passenger numbers will increase substantially.

The forecast is …

5. Sales will climb at the rate of 20 per cent a year.

... predicted …

❸ Preposition in describing trends

Activity 1: Fill in the suitable prepositions.
1. In May , the price of gold rose slightly _______________ $ 1,500.

2. Holidays to foreign destinations remained constant __________________ about 85,000

per month for the last two months of the year.

3. Profits increased _______________ 4 million dollars to 6 million dollars last year.

4. From 2001 to 2010, the price of electricity has increased ___________ 125%.

5. Bike sales reached a peak ____________ 20,000 in September.

6. The last decade has seen a steep increase ____________ the number of people

diagnosed with diabetes.

7. At the start of the year, the turnover of the company stood ___________ £1.3 million.

8. During the summer, student numbers at the school fluctuate __________ 150 and 170 per week.

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 10

Key Takeaway: Preposition in describing
trends

Preposition Usage Example

stand AT + [NUMBER]: The crime rate stood at 5% in 2000.

đứng tại mức (vào 1 mốc cố (Tỉ lệ tội phạm đạt mức 5% vào năm 2000)

định)

remain stable/remained the The figure for rice export in Vietnam

AT same AT + [NUMBER]: giữ remained stable at $15 million in 2015.

(Số liệu xuất khẩu gạo giữ nguyên ở mức 15

nguyên tại mức
triệu đô la vào năm 2015)

The amount of electricity produced peaked

peak AT + [NUMBER]: đạt at 10,000 units in 2000.

mức cao nhất là bao nhiêu (Lượng điện được sản xuất đạt mức cao nhất

là 10,000 đơn vị vào năm 2000)

(verb) increase/decrease - The number of students increased to

TO + [NUMBER]: tăng 10,000 after 2 years.

đến/giảm xuống mức (Số lượng học sinh tăng đến mức 10,000 sau
TO
2 năm)

(noun) an increase/ - There was an increase to 10,000 in the

decrease TO + [NUMBER]: number of students after 2 years.

một sự tăng đến/giảm (Có một sự tăng đến mức 10,000 trong số

xuống mức lượng học sinh sau 2 năm.)

(verb) increase/decrease BY - The number of students increased by

BY + [NUMBER]: tăng thêm/ 2,000 after 2 years

giảm đi bao nhiêu (Số lượng học sinh tăng thêm 2,000 sau 2

năm)

(noun) an increase/ - There was an increase of 2,000 in the

decrease OF + [NUMBER]: number of students after 2 years.

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 11

 một sự tăng thêm/giảm đi
bao nhiêu
reach a peak/reach the
highest point OF +
OF
[NUMBER]: đạt lên mức
cao nhất là bao nhiêu
hit a low/hit the lowest
point of + số liệu: chạm mức
thấp nhất là bao nhiêu
AROUND/ fluctuate/a fluctuation
AROUND + [NUMBER]:
BETWEEN…
biến động trong khoảng
AND…
fluctuate/a fluctuation
BETWEEN… AND….: biến
động ở mức giữa…. và….
from….to…….
Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4
(Có một sự tăng thêm 2,000 trong số lượng
học sinh sau 2 năm.)
The amount of electricity produced reached
a peak of 10,000 units in 2000.
(Lượng điện được sản xuất đạt mức cao nhất
là 10,000 đơn vị vào năm 2000)
The amount of electricity produced hit the
lowest point of 5,000 units in 1980.
(Lượng điện được sản xuất chạm mức thấp
nhất là 5,000 đơn vị vào năm 1980)
The unemployment rate of Vietnam fluctuated
around 10% from 2007 to 2010.
(Tỉ lệ thất nghiệp ở Việt Nam biến động trong
khoảng 10% từ 2007 đến 2010)
The unemployment rate of Vietnam
fluctuated between 8% and 12% from 2007
to 2010.
(Tỉ lệ thất nghiệp ở Việt Nam biến động
trong khoảng từ 8 đến 12% từ 2007
đến 2010)
12
Activity 2: Look at a completed essay. The one on the following page has been done for you
but is missing the preposition. Work with a partner and complete them to the best of your
ability.
Note: There maybe more than one possible answer for some of the blanks.
The diagram shows the consumption of renewable energy in the USA from 1949 to 2008.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making
comparisons where relevant.

Model answer

The line graph shows growth _________ the consumption _____________ renewable energy ___________

1949 _____ 2008 in the USA. The results are also broken down into sources.

Overall, renewable energy uses nearly doubled, and a particular strong growth in biofuels was witnessed

over nearly 60 years.

Biofuels did not exist _________ 1980 but experienced a steep rise during the 2000s _________ over one

quadrillion Btu per year. This made biofuels a serious challenger _________ both wood and hydroelectric

power, as their growth were mildly overall. Wood grew steadily ____from_____ 1975 ________ 1985, but

then slipped back _________ around 1.8 quadrillion Btu. The hydroelectric power stood _______ the same

level _______ wood but later its fluctuation is stronger _______ 3 quadrillion Btu. However, it also fell back

_________ around 2 quadrillion Btu, ___________ a particularly sharp drop _______ the late 1990s.

❹ Practice: In pairs, analyze the data and write full sentences.

The table presents the food consumption (grams) per person weekly in a European country in
1992, 2002, and 2012.

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 13

Example: Describe the data for vegetables from 1992 to 2012
Phrase: rise slightly, from 2140 grams in 1992 to 2220 grams in 2012.
Full-sentence: The amount of vegetables consumed rose slightly from 2140 grams in 1992 to
2220 grams in 2012

Practice
1) Describe the data for meat from 1992 to 2012.
Phrases:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Full-sentence:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2) Describe the data for cheese from 2002 to 2012.

Phrases:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Full-sentence:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

3) Describe the data for Bean from 2002 to 2012.

Phrases:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Full-sentence:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 14

 D Homework
Exercise 1: Match the paragraphs of the following Part 1 report with their respective
functions.

The graph below shows the number of overseas visitors to three different areas in a European
country between 1987 and 2007.

A. The given line graph depicts information about how many foreigners visited three separate
regions in a European nation, during the span of a 20-year period from 1987 to 2007.
B. Overall, the most notable detail is that those three regions all attracted an increasing number
of foreigners. In addition, the lakes’ tourist figures witnessed the most dramatic change among
those given.
C. In more detail, at approximately 10,000 visitors in 1987, the quantity of foreign travelers who
were attracted to the lakes gradually rose to around 50,000 in 2000, before peaking at
approximately 75,000 tourists in 2002, This figure then dropped back down to approximately
50,000 people in 2007.
D. With regards to tourist numbers in coastal and mountainous areas, the overall figures
increased, however mountainous areas remained the least attractive travel option out of the
three. In 1987, the number of those who chose the coast as a travel destination stood at
40,000, compared to only 20,000 travelers who went to the mountains. In the next 14 years,
the coast witnessed a slight decrease in the quantity of visitors by a few thousand, which was

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 15

 followed by a significant climb to around 60,000 people, whereas the number of those visiting
mountainous areas went up remarkably to 30,000 in 2001. In the final 6 years, while the
quantity of overseas tourists going to the coast rose moderately to above 70,000, there was a
slight climb in those who paid a visit to the mountains to about 35,000.

Which paragraph
1. introduces the chart with key information being paraphrased? __________
2. describes the statistics of the two remaining stakeholders? __________
3. describes the statistics of the biggest riser? __________
4. gives an overview about the trends of three given stakeholders and highlights a striking
feature? __________

Exercise 2: Look at the following statistics. Complete each of the following sentences that
describe the charts and tables with an appropriate verb of change, adverb of degree and
prepositions.

1 Ekaterina’s height _______________ _______________ Ekaterina’s height

_______________ 175 cm in 2018 _______________ 178 cm in 2018: 175 cm

2023. 2022: 178 cm

2 The number of customers coming to Mars Shop Customers of Mars Shop

_______________ _______________ from 2500 _______________ March: 2500

March to 2420 _______________ April. April: 2420

3 The amount of donation to ABC Charity _______________ Donations to ABC

_______________ $25,000 in Year 1 _______________ $56,000 Charity

in Year 2. Year 1: $25,000

Year 2: $56,000

4 _______________ 2019 and 2020, the number of book club Book club members

members _______________ _______________ from 26 to 10. 2019: 26

2020: 10

5 The amount of investment poured in A company Investment in A

_______________ _______________ from $4 billion in 2018 to company

_______________ $3.5 billion in 2019 before _______________ 2018: $4 billion

2019: $3.5 billion
_______________ to $6 billion in 2020.
2020: $6 billion

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 16

 6 Nam’s GPA for Maths _______________ _______________ the Nam’s Maths GPA

given time period, ranging _______________ 9.3 and 9.7. 2017: 9.5
2018: 9.6
2019: 9.3
2020: 9.4
2021: 9.7

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences in Exercise 2, starting them with the given words.
1. There _____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________.

2. The period between March and April saw _____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________.

3. The amount of donation to ABC Charity witnessed _____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________.

4. From 2019 to 2020, there ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________.

5. The amount of investment poured in A company saw ___________________________________

_____________________________ before _______________________________________________.

6. A _________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________.

Exercise 4: Look at the following graph. Write sentences to describe the required data, using
the structures given in brackets.

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 17

1. The number of tourists to the aquarium between 1980 and 1985 (There + be)

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. The number of visitors to the castle from 1985 to 1995 (S + V + adv)

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. The number of tourists to the zoo from 2000 to 2010 (S + saw / witnessed)

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. The number of people coming to the festival between 1980 and 2010 (A / an + adj + N + was
witnessed / recorded)
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 5: Look at the graph in Exercise 4 again. Write sentences to describe the highest and
lowest point of each stakeholder, using the phrases given in the table below. Make changes to
the phrases if needed

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 18

 Highest: peak at, reach the peak of, hit a high of
Lowest: hit a low of, bottom out at, fall to its low of

Example: The number of visitors to the aquarium reached the peak of over 35% in 1985.
1. Aquarium
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. Castle
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. Zoo
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. Festival
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 6: Each of the following sentences contains one error, except for one with two errors.
Find and correct all the mistakes.
1. The amount of money earned by Mrs. Adriana in 2010 stood by $250,000.
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. The number of students enrolling in School A increases from 1500 to 2000 between 2001
and 2004.
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. There was a dramatic rose in the percentage of goods coming to the North of the country.
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. 2019 witnessed a slightly fall in the average monthly income of Bosnian households.
___________________________________________________________________________________
5. From the given period, there was a tremendous rise in the number of flu cases in the region.
___________________________________________________________________________________
6. The amount of money invested into Silhouette Bank increased between $3 billion and $3.5
billion.

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 19

 ___________________________________________________________________________________
7. The profits of company B hit a high at $500 million in 2019.
___________________________________________________________________________________
8. The deficits of company B peaked of $410 million in 2020.
___________________________________________________________________________________
9. The number of cars exported to South Africa bottomed on at 2500 in 2015.
___________________________________________________________________________________
10. The proportion of students at school ABC that achieved a 9+ score in Maths test reached the
peak at 50 in 2018.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 7:

Look at the graph above and describe the changes of all the stakeholders involved. Try to use
the vocabulary items and structures learned in the lesson. Here is an example.
1. Paper
In 2011, the amount of collected paper waste stood at nearly 60 tons. This number fell
gradually to 40 tons in 2013 before peaking at 70 tons two years later.
In 2011, the amount of collected paper waste was around 60 tons. After a gradual fall to 40
tons in 2013, the number increased dramatically the next two years and hit a high of 70
tons.
2. Glass
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 20

3. Tins
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. Garden
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

READ ME FIRST BEFORE THE NEXT LESSON!

Making comparison

Making comparison between different subjects in the graph is also a requirement of IELTS

Writing Task 1. As comparison is also a significant detail of the chart that should be included in

the writing task, we should pay attention to the biggest numbers, similar numbers and then use

comparative language in the process of writing.

There are a variety of ways which could be used to show comparisons in writing. These include

superlatives, comparatives, discourse markers or using the actual numbers.

Comparative and Superlatives

The basics of Comparative and Superlatives are presented in this table:

Example words Comparative Superlative

Words with one syllable High Higher The highest
Words with three syllables and Productive More productive The most

more Less productive productive

The least

productive
Words ending with -y Wealthy Wealthier The wealthiest
Short words ending with a Hot Hotter The hottest

consonant/vowel
Irregular Good Better Best

Simply put, we will have comparative and superlatives in writing as following:

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 21

As a statement

The figure was high. In 2020, the number of people who worked from home was very high.

Using comparative

The figure for [A] is higher than [B]. In 2021, the figures were lower than in the previous year.

Using superlative

The figure was the highest. By the end of the period, this figure was the highest.

A more complex structure in direct comparison between figures we can use are.

Eg1. The percentage of cars in the UK was quite as many as the percentage of bikes in 1980.

Eg2. The percentage of cars in the UK was far greater than that of bikes in 1980.

Here are some of the sentence structures you can apply when comparing data.

a) Equative comparison

b) Non-equative comparison

Bud Writing Task 1 Course - Lesson 4 22