Writing Task 1 for the IELTS Exam

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

• !Skipping the overview paragraph (mandatory for Band 7+)
• !Writing fewer than 150 words (auto-deduction)
• !Personal opinion in Academic Task 1 (none allowed)
• !Repeating verbs and noun phrases instead of paraphrasing

Study tips

• 1Memorize a 4-paragraph template: intro / overview / body 1 / body 2.
• 2Drill 10 synonyms each for "rose", "fell", "stayed the same", "fluctuated".
• 3Practice paraphrasing the question prompt — never copy verbatim.
• 4Time yourself at 20 minutes — Task 1 must be under 20 to leave 40 for Task 2.

Sample IELTS Writing Task 1 questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real IELTS questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1. 1

   In Academic Writing Task 1, which paragraph is essential for Band 7+ and is most often missed?

   • AA conclusion paragraph
   • BA personal-opinion paragraph
   • CAn overview paragraphCorrect
   • DA definition paragraph
   Why this answer?

   The overview paragraph (a 1–2 sentence summary of the main trends WITHOUT specific numbers) is the strongest predictor of Band 7+. The IELTS public band descriptor explicitly requires it.