How to Write Each Section of Your Task

How to write each section of your Task

A) Academic Task 1

Introduction

Examiners are looking for candidates to describe every part of the chart which includes the data points, x axis, y axis and what the chart shows. The examiner will look at the chart and then look at your description and see if they are the same.

Key things to do

Tell the examiner what the chart shows.>
Describe every part of the chart.
Tell the examiner what all the data points are.
Try to write this in two or three sentences.
Give an overview of the numbers.

Key things to do

Describe all the data points.
Describe the type + top + middle + bottom + left + right

Question

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The chart below shows the movement of people from rural to urban areas in three countries and predictions for future years.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Good examples

The line graph shows the figures in tens of millions for the migration of people from the countryside to cities in three different countries over the period 2000 to 2025 and includes future predictions.
The line graph depicts the movement of people from rural to urban areas in tens of millions in three different countries over the period 2000 to 2025.

(Each of these describes the top, middle, bottom, left and right.)

Bad examples

The line graph is a showing a millions of the migration of the people from the country to a cities in some different country.

(Very imprecise description and bad grammar. The examiner doesn’t know what the chart shows, what the data points are and only has a limited knowledge of the scale of measurement. The chart below shows the movement of people from rural to urban areas in three countries and predictions for future years.

The diagram depicts the travelling of citizens from countryside to downtown in third localities and predicts the future.

(This candidate has copied what is written above the task and tried to change the words. But this has made what they have written very confusing and it doesn’t make any sense. A diagram is not this kind of chart, citizens are not the same as people, downtown is only part of a city not the whole city.)

Overall Sentence (Sentences 2 / 3)

This sentence needs to show the trend or give a general description of how the numbers are changing.

Key things

Give a general description of how the numbers are changing.
Don’t mention any specific numbers.
If appropriate, communicate what the trend is over time.
Try to make this one or two sentences.

Good examples

Overall, it is clear that the shift from rural communities towards urban metropolitan areas is upwards.
Overall, the number of people moving from rural to urban areas is increasing except in Indonesia where the rate of expansion will level off in 2020.

(Each of these communicates very clearly what the trend is and gives a general description of how the numbers are changing)

Bad examples

A many people are moving to the urban from a countryside.

(Very imprecise description of how the numbers are changing)

Iran started at 8 million and then quickly grew to 38 million in 2010. This followed a rising trend of 50 million to finish at 98 million in 2025.

(This has too many precise numbers and doesn’t communicate what is happening in general)

Finished Example (Introduction)

Finished Introduction (good example)

Background – The line graph shows the figures in millions for the migration of people from the countryside to cities in three different countries over the period 2000 to 2025, including future predictions. Overall – Overall, it is clear that the shift from rural communities towards urban metropolitan areas is upwards.

Finished Introduction (bad example)

Background – The line graph is a showing a millions of the migration of the people from the country to a cities in some different country. Overall – A many people are moving to the urban from a countryside.

B) General Task 1

How to write the start

Examiners are looking for letters to be written in the correct style. Letters must connect with the prompts part of the task and have an appropriate lay out.

Key things to do

Tell the examiner what the chart shows.>
Describe every part of the chart.
Tell the examiner what all the data points are.
Try to write this in two or three sentences.
Give an overview of the numbers.

Key things to do

Use formal language for a formal letter.
Use informal language for an informal letter.
Be careful with word choice and use an appropriate style.
Connect your letter paragraphs with the prompts.
Start your letter with the correct opening depending on the level of formality.

Opening

Write either a formal or informal greeting like ‘Hi’ or ‘Dear’ and some kind of salutation like ‘I hope you are doing well’ or ‘To whom it may concern.’
Check out the language section for examples of this.

Key things to do

Start your letter with the correct degree of formality.
Include a salutation.

Question

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You recently took a trip with a taxi company. The driver behaved in an unacceptable way and you had a lot of problems. You complained to the company but no-one has replied to your complaint.

Write a letter to the taxi company. In your letter

say why you are writing and how you feel
explain what happened
tell them what you would like them to do.

Good example

Dear Sir or Madam
To whom it may concern.

Bad example

Hi Mrs Smith
I am writing to you because I feel angry.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You arranged to visit a friend in Canada but an important event at home now means that you must change the dates of the visit.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

explain the important event
apologise for the situation
suggest a new arrangement

Good example

Hi Susan
I am really sorry about this.

Bad example

Dear Susan
I hope this letter finds you well.