- The IELTS Writing test lasts 60 minutes in total, and official guidance is to spend no more than 20 minutes on Task 1 and write at least 150 words
- Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing band score
- Examiners use four analytical criteria that are weighted equally within a task
- IELTS has confirmed that Writing on Paper will be available from mid-2026 as an option on the computer-delivered test, with the same task types, scoring and time allocation.
What Is IELTS Writing Task 1?
IELTS Writing Task 1 is the shorter of the two writing tasks. In IELTS Academic you describe a graph, table, chart, map or process in your own words. In IELTS General Training you write a letter responding to a situation. Both versions require at least 150 words.
Every IELTS candidate sits a Writing test made up of two tasks, and Task 1 always comes first. What appears on the question paper depends on which version of the test you booked. Academic candidates, who are usually applying to universities, are given visual information to summarise. General Training candidates, who are usually applying for work or migration, are given a real-life situation and asked to write a letter about it.
The two versions share the same timing, the same minimum length and the same marking criteria, so most of the advice in this guide applies whichever paper you take. The difference lies in the input material and in the register you are expected to use.
| Feature 2026 | IELTS Academic Task 1 | IELTS General Training Task 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input material | Graph, table, chart, map or process diagram | A described situation with three bullet points |
| What you produce | A factual summary of the visual | A letter to a named or unnamed reader |
| Suggested time | No more than 20 minutes | No more than 20 minutes |
| Minimum length | 150 words | 150 words |
| Style | Academic or semi-formal, neutral | Personal, semi-formal or formal |
| Weighting | Half the weight of Task 2 | Half the weight of Task 2 |
How Long Is Task 1 and How Many Words Do You Write?
The full IELTS Writing test lasts 60 minutes and contains two tasks. Official guidance says you should spend no more than 20 minutes on Task 1, leaving about 40 minutes for Task 2. Task 1 needs at least 150 words, and short answers are penalised.
There is no separate clock for each task. You are given 60 minutes for the whole Writing paper and you divide the time yourself, which is why so many candidates lose marks on Task 2 after overrunning on Task 1. Treating the 20-minute figure as a hard limit during practice is the simplest way to protect your overall Writing band.
- Spend the first two or three minutes reading the prompt and planning.
- Write for roughly 15 minutes without stopping to edit every sentence.
- Keep two minutes at the end to check tenses, plurals and figures.
- Aim for around 160 to 190 words so you are safely over the 150-word minimum.
- Move to Task 2 at the 20-minute mark even if Task 1 feels unfinished.
How Is IELTS Writing Task 1 Scored?
Examiners assess each task independently against four analytical criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. The four criteria are weighted equally within a task. Across the Writing paper, however, Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to your final Writing band.
This weighting is the single most misunderstood fact about IELTS Writing. A brilliant Task 1 cannot rescue a weak Task 2, because Task 2 counts for two thirds of the Writing score. Task 1 is still worth protecting, but it should never eat into the time you need for the essay.
- Task achievement: did you cover the requirements and report the data accurately?
- Coherence and cohesion: is the answer logically organised and clearly linked?
- Lexical resource: is your vocabulary wide enough and used precisely?
- Grammatical range and accuracy: do you use varied structures with few errors?
IELTS publishes the writing band descriptors and an assessment criteria guide as free downloads, along with videos showing how examiners apply them to real answers. Reading the descriptors for the band above your current level is far more useful than memorising template phrases.
Which Question Types Appear in Academic Task 1?
Academic Task 1 asks you to summarise visual information. Common formats are line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, maps, and process or life-cycle diagrams. Some questions combine two visuals. Whatever the format, you must select the most important features, report them accurately, and make relevant comparisons rather than explain causes.
- Line graph: describe the trend over time, including peaks, troughs and any crossover points.
- Bar chart: compare categories and identify the highest and lowest values.
- Pie chart: report proportions and highlight the largest and smallest segments.
- Table: group related rows or columns instead of listing every cell.
- Map: describe change between two time points using position and direction language.
- Process or life-cycle diagram: describe the stages in order using sequencing words and the passive voice.
When two visuals appear together, do not describe them separately and stop. The strongest answers give an overview that covers both and then link them, for example connecting a chart of enrolment numbers with a table of tuition costs.
How Should You Structure an Academic Task 1 Answer?
A reliable structure has four short paragraphs: paraphrase the question, give an overview of the main trends or stages, then write two body paragraphs with grouped detail and supporting figures. Write in an academic or semi-formal, neutral style, and never add opinions, conclusions or invented reasons.
- Introduction: rewrite the question in your own words, keeping the units and time period accurate.
- Overview: state the two or three biggest patterns without any specific numbers.
- Body paragraph one: develop the first pattern with selected figures.
- Body paragraph two: develop the remaining data, including any exception or outlier.
The overview is the paragraph candidates most often skip, and it is directly rewarded under task achievement. If you are short of time, write the overview before the body paragraphs rather than saving it for the end.
How to book your IELTS test and what it costsRead →What Is Different in General Training Task 1?
General Training Task 1 replaces the chart with a letter. You are given a situation and three bullet points that must all be covered. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style, so match the tone and greeting to the reader. Length and timing rules are identical.
Deciding on the register is the first move. If the letter is to a friend, a personal style with contractions is appropriate. If it is to a manager you know by name, a semi-formal style works. If the recipient is unknown, use a formal opening and closing throughout.
- Personal letter: open with Dear plus a first name and close with an informal sign-off.
- Semi-formal letter: open with Dear plus a title and surname and keep the tone polite and direct.
- Formal letter: open with Dear Sir or Madam and close with Yours faithfully.
- Give one short paragraph to each of the three bullet points so nothing is left out.
Which Vocabulary and Grammar Should You Use?
Lexical resource and grammatical range each carry a quarter of the marks for the task, so accuracy matters more than showing off. Use precise trend verbs, comparison language and correct prepositions of time. Mix simple and complex sentences, and paraphrase the prompt instead of copying it word for word.
A frequent misconception is that difficult words automatically raise your band. They do not. Examiners reward vocabulary that is used correctly and appropriately, and an unusual word used wrongly costs more than a common word used well.
- Upward movement: rose, increased, climbed, surged, grew steadily.
- Downward movement: fell, declined, dropped, decreased sharply.
- Stability and fluctuation: remained stable, levelled off, fluctuated, plateaued.
- Proportions: accounted for, made up, represented, a quarter of, just under half.
- Process language: first, next, subsequently, finally, followed by, at this stage.
What Are the Most Common Task 1 Mistakes?
The most costly errors are writing fewer than 150 words, omitting an overview, copying the question wording, listing every number without grouping, and adding personal opinions or causes. Spending more than 20 minutes on Task 1 is equally damaging, because Task 2 carries double the weight.
- Writing under 150 words, which is explicitly penalised.
- Copying whole phrases from the prompt instead of paraphrasing them.
- Describing data point by point with no grouping or comparison.
- Explaining why a trend happened when the data does not say so.
- Adding a personal opinion or a Task 2 style conclusion.
- Misreading the units, the axis labels or the time period.
How Can You Prepare for Task 1 in 2026?
Use the official IELTS writing preparation resources, which include the public band descriptors, the assessment criteria guide and marked sample answers. Practise under timed conditions with a 20-minute limit. If only Writing lets you down, One Skill Retake lets you resit that section within 60 days of your original test.
One Skill Retake is booked and taken within 60 days of the original test, only one retake is allowed per full test, and results arrive within three to five days. It is currently offered on computer in selected test centres and countries, so check availability locally before relying on it.
It also helps to know the score you are aiming for. Universities set a per-component minimum as well as an overall figure. The University of Sheffield, for example, asks undergraduate and postgraduate applicants for IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component, while the University of Edinburgh requires an IELTS Academic result that is no more than two years old on the first of the month your programme starts.
Finally, do not worry about the delivery mode. IELTS has confirmed that when Writing on Paper becomes available from mid-2026, the task types, scoring and time allocation of the Writing component stay the same whether you type your answer or handwrite it.