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Writing Self-Study Programme Task 1

The aims of the Writing Self-study Programme are to help students understand the IELTS Writing Task 1 format and assessment criteria, develop their ability to analyze their own writing, and improve their vocabulary and grammar. The programme provides five days of exercises and practice tests to help students describe data presented in charts, graphs, diagrams and maps by focusing on key details, comparisons, and appropriate verb tenses. Students are encouraged to complete checklists after each practice test to track their progress in completing the task within the time limit and meeting other assessment criteria.

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156 views7 pages

Writing Self-Study Programme Task 1

The aims of the Writing Self-study Programme are to help students understand the IELTS Writing Task 1 format and assessment criteria, develop their ability to analyze their own writing, and improve their vocabulary and grammar. The programme provides five days of exercises and practice tests to help students describe data presented in charts, graphs, diagrams and maps by focusing on key details, comparisons, and appropriate verb tenses. Students are encouraged to complete checklists after each practice test to track their progress in completing the task within the time limit and meeting other assessment criteria.

Uploaded by

wabo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Writing

Self-study
Programme
Task 1

takeielts.org
Academic Writing
week: Task 1
The aims of the Writing Self-study Programme are that you . . .
• Understand the format and task types
• Understand how your writing is assessed
• Develop your ability to analyse your own writing
• Develop appropriate vocabulary
• Become aware of appropriate grammatical structures

Day 1

a. Make sure you know exactly what the Writing Test (Tasks 1 and 2) is like. Go to
ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format and read the information carefully.
b. Go to takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-ielts-practice-tests/
writing/academic/task-1 and read this information carefully too. Then do the practice
task. Type your answer to this question on your computer. Put the English spellchecker
on and make a note of those words you have spelt wrongly. Keep your Task 1 report
and try this task again after
your study week.
c. Go to takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ielts_task_1_writing_band_
descriptors.pdf and download the public descriptors for task 1. These give you a
good idea of what the examiner is looking for at each Band level for Task Achievement
(how well you answer the question), coherence and cohesion (how well you organise
your essay and how well you link your ideas), lexical resource (your vocabulary),
and grammatical range and accuracy (how well you can use grammar). Look at the
descriptors for the band level you need.
Day 2

Writing Task 1 consists of writing a description of data. This data can come in the form
of line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, flow and process diagrams, and maps/
plans. It is recommended that you spend 20 minutes on this task, and you should write
a minimum of 150 words in order to do this task satisfactorily. Write a clear introduction
that rephrases what the diagram is and the overview. It is very important that you write
a clear overview in your introduction, that is, you say what the most important trend(s)
or change(s) are, or for a process diagram the number of steps/stages in the process.
a. Go to Road to IELTS rtiac.roadtoielts.com/?utm_source=RTI.com&utm_
medium=try_freeversion&utm_campaign=RTI.com#prefix=TD and work through
this series of exercises that will help you with dealing with charts, numbers, choosing
the correct tense. There is a practice activity at the end. Write this report in 20 minutes.
Then look at the sample answer. Did you:
• Have the same overview?
• Describe the data in the same order?
• Describe the same data?
b. You are usually asked to make comparisons in this task. Go to the IELTS Prep App
takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps, click on <Writing> and
then <More prep>. Select <Grammar> then <Comparisons>. Do the exercise.
Make notes of the different ways to make comparisons.
c. Find out your CEFR level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) by doing an online test at
learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/online-english-level-test Then do the appropriate
grammar practice below:
Further practice of comparisons for B1-B2
learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-intermediate/
modifying-comparisons
Practice of adjectives and prepositions for A1-A2
learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/beginner-to-pre-intermediate/adjectives-
and-prepositions
d. Do a practice test of a line graph. Go to ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/writing-sample-tests/
academic-writing-sample-task-1b.ashx?la=en Compare your answer with 2 sample
answers at Bands 6 and 7.
ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/writing-sample-tests/ac-writing-sample-materials-and-
examiner-comments.ashx?la=en Read the examiner’s comments to help you improve
next time.
Day 3

Sometimes you may be asked to describe a process, for example how something is made
or manufactured. To do this task well, you will need to use the passive voice.
a. Go to the IELTS Prep App takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps,
click on <Writing> and then <More prep>. Select <Grammar> then <Passive voice>.
Do the exercise.
b. Go to learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-
intermediate/passives
for further practice.
c. Try writing a description of a process. Remember to write the overview (the number of
steps/stages) in your introductory paragraph. ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/writing-sample-
tests/academic-writing-sample-task-1c.ashx?la=en
Compare your answer with 2 sample answers at Bands 5 and 7. ielts.org/-/media/
pdfs/writing-sample-tests/ac-writing-sample-materials-and-examiner-comments.
ashx?la=en
Day 4

Sometimes you may be asked to describe a map or compare 2 maps. Sometimes you are
asked to compare a place in the past and now, or now and in the future. So, you will need
to use different verb forms, for example, the past simple, the present simple, the present
perfect, and describe the future.
a. Go to the IELTS Prep App takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps,
click on <Writing> and then <More prep>. Select <Grammar> then <Past simple>.
Do the exercise.
b. Go to the IELTS Prep App takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps,
click on <Writing> and then <More prep>. Select <Grammar> then <Present Perfect>.
Do the exercise.
c. Go to the IELTS Prep App takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps,
click on <Writing> and then <More prep>. Select <Grammar> then <Predicting the
future>. Do the exercise.
Day 5

Now, try 4 different practice tests.


a. Describing a line graph
Go to the IELTS Prep App takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps,
click on <Writing>, then <Practice tests> and do Test 1.
b. Describing a bar chart
Go to the IELTS Prep App takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps,
click on <Writing>, then <Practice tests> and do Test 2.
c. Describing a process diagram
Go to the IELTS Prep App takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps,
click on <Writing>, then <Practice tests> and do Test 3.
d. Finally, repeat the test you did at the very beginning
of the study programme. Go to takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-
ielts-practice-tests/writing/academic/task-1 Compare this description with the one
you did before. What has improved?
e. After each practice test, complete the following checklist:
• Did I write the description in 20 minutes?
• Did I write at least 150 words?
• Did I write an introduction with a clear overview?
• Did I use the simple past in Tests 1 and 2, and in the Road to IELTS test?
• Did I use the passive voice in Test 3?
f. Now, use the English spellchecker to highlight any spelling mistakes. Make a note of the
correct spellingof the words you misspelt.
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ielts.org
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