The IELTS Writing Test should start at 11.45am, after the Reading Test. There are 2 parts to the Writing Test, and you have a total of 60 minutes to complete them.
You should spend 20 minutes doing IELTS Writing Task 1. You must write 150 words or more. You will have to describe a graph, chart, table, diagram or map.
The good news is that you can quickly learn how to write a Task 1 essay. I'll make sure you know exactly what to do in the exam.
We'll work on these areas:
- How to structure a good Task 1 essay.
- How to decide what information to include in your description.
- The words, phrases and grammatical structures for describing graphs, charts, tables, diagrams and maps.
By using the right techniques, you can write the kind of essay that examiners like.
Dear Teacher Simon,
I'm preparing to take IELTS in December.
Regarding the bar chart, I'm totally lost when there are many bars e.g. Cambridge 3 Test 2 pp 51. So will you please explain the simplest way to group such graph?
I'd also like to say thanks for your daily lessons.
I'm always wait your daily page and study them.
Yours sincerely,
Pinky
Posted by: Pinky | November 24, 2009 at 17:57
Hi Pinky, I'll write a lesson about bar charts on Thursday. Thanks for commenting, I'm glad you like the daily lessons.
Simon
Posted by: Simon | November 24, 2009 at 23:40
Dear Simon,your ideas on structuring a good Task 1 essay are very helpful.
Finally something makes sense.
Please keep it up.
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | March 21, 2010 at 18:37
Thanks Vicki, I'm glad you like it
Posted by: Simon | March 21, 2010 at 21:20
My appreciation of your works is more than words can ever say, this kind of unconditional contribution to the strangers is incredible, much better than so-called paid program. Many thanks ^ o ^
Posted by: DT | July 07, 2011 at 23:39
Thanks DT!
Posted by: Simon | July 08, 2011 at 15:40
Dear Sir
I will b appearing for my IELTS on coming Saturday i.e. 13th Aug 2011 and have to apeear for General Category exam. My query is in writing task 1 will there b a quest abt letter wrtg or a graph, map ........
Pls guide me to d right track.
Posted by: Vaishu | August 08, 2011 at 08:02
Hi Vaishu,
The GT exam question will be letter writing. I'm afraid I only cover the academic test on this site, but there are some good books and other websites that cover the letter writing task.
Posted by: Simon | August 09, 2011 at 09:11
No problem Sir the information other than letter wring are similar and the main thg u r providing us with the baic idea. wht else v need more than dat
Thnks 4 ur advice
I got the clear pic abt writg part 1 q
Posted by: Vaishu | August 09, 2011 at 12:16
No problem Vaishu.
Posted by: Simon | August 10, 2011 at 17:54
Good Day Mr. Simon!im new to your site and i just would like to ask whether the General Training category do not include questions about graphs or charts.. Thanks....
Posted by: jobelyn | October 26, 2011 at 18:07
In relation to my previous comment,what i mean is the Writing task for general training..thanks
Posted by: jobelyn | October 26, 2011 at 18:11
Hi Jobelyn,
No, you don't get a 'graph' question in the general training test. Writing task 1 is writing a letter, and task 2 is discussing a topic (task 2 is the same as the academic test).
I'm afraid I don't cover general training task 1 on this site, but you can use the task 2 lessons.
Posted by: Simon | October 27, 2011 at 10:51
Hi Simon,
Would appreciate if you could include advice for writing the letter. Which is the task one in General IELTS.
Thanks
Bhupen
Posted by: Bhupen | May 01, 2012 at 00:04
hii simon.is ur site help for ielts idp test takers of academic module??
Posted by: swaps | August 16, 2012 at 18:31
Hi Simon,
I am astonished to see the fantastic materials you provided in the site. Really these are helpful and productive. I think if I practice like your guidelines I surely succeed in my goal. But I remind myself that I need a very good score. Friends! if you practice IELTS you can reach me at my skype id: salim.8287. Again many thanks to Teacher Simon.
Salim Chowdhury
Posted by: Salim Chowdhury | August 30, 2012 at 07:47
dear sir,
should i include all the data given?
Posted by: Mona | January 28, 2013 at 12:03
Hi, Simon i am preparing for my IELTS and need to get a band 8. so can you please tell me what i need to do and focus on in order to achieve that.
Thank you
Falguni
Posted by: Falguni soni | March 08, 2013 at 17:33
Hi, simon
I was disappoint my IELTS result, I just got L - 6.5, R- 6.0, W-5.5 and S-5.5 overall 6.0, but I want 7 band overall not less than R-7 and W-7, please help me.
Ankita
Posted by: Ankita PATEL | June 06, 2014 at 06:41
very nice effort.god bless you
Posted by: alvina | July 15, 2014 at 09:36
Dear Simon
U r site is very helpful for all the student .thanks ....
Posted by: mani | August 30, 2014 at 03:13
dear Simon
Posted by: Sirojiddin | November 26, 2014 at 12:23
Dear Simon I always read your excellent essays for task one and two.I have understood your essays but I cannot be organizing as you. Could you send me some suggestion for improving writing skills.And If I send an essay for writing task one Could you check it?
Posted by: Sirojiddin | November 26, 2014 at 12:33
Sir tommorow is my IELTS exam can you guve me some tips for writing task 1. Last time I got Band5 in writing .I do not know how to improve please help me.
Posted by: Parth | October 23, 2015 at 12:25
Dear Mr.Corcoran,
First of all, I`d like to thank you for your site which,to put it directly,was a great helper to me.
I was wondering if you don`t mind answering some of my questions.Looking through the recent ielts tasks i noticed that in different countries absolutely identical questions are being given with a few-months diference. Moreover, today in writing task2 only a couple of particular questions are used.Therefore, you can predict which topic you are likely to receive on the exam. I`m taking an exam in april, so i`d be really grateful if you can tell me topics that i`m most likely to get.
your most sincerely,
niko
Posted by: niko | February 14, 2016 at 19:14
Follow
Posted by: Enzee | June 06, 2017 at 17:54
thank you.
Posted by: badr | August 16, 2017 at 10:33