IELTS Academic Task 1 How To Write At A Band 9 Level

IELTS Academic and General Task 1:

How to write at a band 9 level

Copyright (c) 2013 by Ryan Thomas Higgins

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

reproduced or used in any form without the

explicit permission of its author,

Ryan Thomas Higgins.

Layout by Daria Lacy

Cover by Dominique Gamelin

http://www.ieltswritingblog.com

FOREWORD

This book has been written to provide the IELTS student with details on how to prepare and perform effectively on the written Task 1 portion of the IELTS Academic examination.

Task 1 is completely different from Task 2 and will test your ability to present ‰”ƒ’Š‹…ƒŽ †ƒ–ƒ ‹ ™”‹––‡ ‰Ž‹•ŠǤ ‘— ™‹ŽŽ ϐ‹† ‹ ›‘—” –”ƒ‹‹‰ ˆ‘” –Š‹• •‡…–‹‘ –Šƒ– new lexical resources and writing patterns will need to be adopted. Structurally speaking, Task 1 is in many ways much more complicated than Task 2. Unlike Task 2, which can be performed in four well-ư‐organized paragraphs and a set number of sentences, the number of paragraphs your Task 1 response requires will vary ac-ư‐ cording to the data you are given in your question. Further, the number of sentences within these paragraphs can also vary. Thus, the training you will receive through –Š‹• „‘‘ ™‹ŽŽ •Š‘™ ›‘— Š‘™ –‘ ƒ‹–ƒ‹ ƒ ϐŽ‡š‹„Ž‡ •–”—…–—”‡ ƒŽŽ‘™‹‰ ›‘— –‘ ƒ……‘-­‐ modate your response to the needs of Task 1 questions on a case-ư‐by-ư‐case basis.

Although a powerful tool, this ebook should not be the only resource you draw from in preparation for your examination. It should be remembered that no textbook can replace the value of a routine of practice administered under the guidance of a professional IELTS trainer.

The pages included in this ebook are the result of months of research, drafting, edit-ư‐ ‹‰ǡ ™”‹–‹‰ ƒ† ”‡™”‹–‹‰ ƒ† ”‡ϐŽ‡…– –Š‡ ’”‘ˆ‡••‹‘ƒŽ •‹ŽŽ• Šƒ˜‡ „—‹Ž– ƒ• ƒ trainer since 2004. This ebook is provided at a price to allow fair access to everyone on all budgets. Please do not bootleg!

CONTENTS

Foreword

1.1 What is required in Task 1 of the IELTS writing exam?

1.2 Analyzing Task 1 questions and identifying and interpreting data types

2.1 How to reveal broad, minor and minute details in your writing

2.2 Proper Task 1 writing structure

2.3 Single data source structure in more detail

2.4 Double data source structure in more detail

3.1 Lexical resources for different data types

3.2 The importance of pace

3.3 Building your paragraphs

3.4 The importance of cohesion

4.1 How to write using double data source structure

5.1 How to respond to diagrams

6.1 Review quiz

IELTS Academic Task 1: How to write at a band 9 level

5

1.1 WHAT IS REQUIRED IN TASK 1 OF THE IELTS WRITING EXAM?

The writing portion of the IELTS exam is 60 minutes in length. The Academic and General portions require the student to complete two tasks referred to as Task 1 and Task 2Ǣ Š‘™‡˜‡”ǡ –Š‡ –ƒ•• –Š‡•‡Ž˜‡• †‹ˆˆ‡” „‡–™‡‡ –Š‡ –™‘ ‡šƒ•Ǥ Š‡ ϐ‹”•– task of the Academic exam asks the student to write a descriptive report based on information given in a picture, table, diagram or graph. Task 1 of the General exam requires students write a letter. Task 2 on both exams requires students compose an essay. Essay questions are very similar between the two exams; however, General test takers may be more personal and less formal in their response. Students are ex-ư‐ pected to allot 20 minutes to Task 1 and 40 minutes to Task 2 when engaging either exam.

The written Task 1 portion of the Academic IELTS is designed to test your ability to analyze data presented in English and to express this in writing. As these data •‘—”…‡• …ƒ „‡ “—‹–‡ ”ƒ†‘ǡ ›‘— ™‹ŽŽ ‡‡† –‘ –”ƒ‹ ›‘—”•‡Žˆ –‘ „‡ ϐŽ‡š‹„Ž‡Ǥ

Successful Task 1 responses require the IELTS student to analyze data and digest it into its broad, minor and minute details. The student must then be able to employ •—ˆϐ‹…‹‡–Ž› „”‘ƒ† Ž‡š‹…ƒŽ ”‡•‘—”…‡• –‘ †‡•…”‹„‡ –Š‡•‡ †‡–ƒ‹Ž• …‘Š‡”‡–Ž› ƒ† ™‹–Š grammatical accuracy. The product of their writing should be cohesive and logical ƒ† ”‡ƒ† ™‹–Š ƒ ϐŽ—‡…› …