IELTS Writing: IELTS Writing Task 1: Graphs Practice Questions
Test yourself on IELTS Writing Task 1: Graphs with 12 original IELTS practice questions. Pick an answer to see instant feedback and a full explanation.
Free original practice questions for study purposes. Open Exam Prep is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the makers of IELTS.
advertisement
Answer the questions below — you get instant feedback and a full explanation for each.
1. In Academic Writing Task 1, what is the MINIMUM word count you should aim to exceed?
Explanation. Academic Task 1 requires at least 150 words. Writing fewer than 150 words leads to a penalty under Task Achievement. (250 words is the minimum for Task 2.)
2. What is the recommended time to spend on Writing Task 1?
Explanation. You should spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2, because Task 2 carries twice the marks toward your overall Writing band.
3. Which of the following should you NOT include in an Academic Task 1 graph response?
Explanation. Task 1 is a factual report; personal opinions are not required and waste words. Task 2 is where opinions belong. Overviews, data, and a paraphrased introduction are all expected in Task 1.
4. A line graph shows that sales 'increased sharply'. Which phrase is the best alternative for variety?
Explanation. 'Climbed dramatically' conveys the same idea of a strong, fast increase. 'Rose steadily' implies a gradual change, 'fluctuated' means up and down, and 'levelled off' means becoming stable.
5. In the Task 1 assessment, what does the 'overview' refer to?
Explanation. The overview identifies the key, most noticeable features (e.g., highest/lowest values, overall direction) without specific detail. It is essential for a band 6+ in Task Achievement.
6. Which sentence correctly describes data using the past tense for a graph covering 2000–2010?
Explanation. Because the period (2000–2010) is finished, the past simple 'increased' is correct. Present tense suits ongoing/general facts and future tense suits projections.
7. A graph shows a value that stayed exactly the same over several years. Which verb phrase best describes this?
Explanation. 'Remained stable' (or 'remained constant') describes no change. 'Plummeted' means fell sharply, 'surged' means rose sharply, and 'rebounded' means recovered after a fall.
8. When a chart projects data into the FUTURE (e.g., to 2030), which grammatical structure is most appropriate?
Explanation. Projected or forecast data has not happened yet, so future forms ('will rise', 'is projected to reach') are appropriate. Past tenses would be incorrect for predicted figures.
9. Which is the BEST way to begin a Task 1 response about a line graph?
Explanation. A strong introduction paraphrases the prompt (synonyms, changed sentence structure). Copying the prompt earns no credit toward word count and shows no lexical range.
10. To compare two values that are similar but not identical, which phrase is appropriate?
Explanation. 'Was roughly the same as' (or 'was comparable to') correctly expresses similar values. The other options indicate large differences or specific multiples that the data does not support.
11. In a graph, the prepositions for describing values are important. Which sentence uses them correctly?
Explanation. We use 'rose to [a final value]' and 'by [a point in time]'. 'Rose by' is used for the amount of change (e.g., rose by $2 million), while 'rose to' indicates the endpoint reached.
12. A bar chart shows the highest category clearly standing out. The best overview sentence would:
Explanation. A good overview highlights the most striking general features—here, the clear highest and lowest categories—without giving specific figures. Detailed numbers belong in the body, and speculation about causes is not asked for.
📘 Want a full structured course and official-style practice tests? Browse top-rated IELTS prep books and courses. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
advertisement
FAQ
How is Writing Task 1 scored?
Task 1 is marked on four equally weighted criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Task 1 contributes one-third of your overall Writing band, while Task 2 contributes two-thirds.
Do I need to include every number in the graph?
No. Select and report the most significant data to support your overview and comparisons. Listing every figure makes the response mechanical and wastes time; choose key points, peaks, lows, and notable comparisons instead.
What's the ideal structure for a Task 1 graph answer?
Use four short paragraphs: an introduction (paraphrase the question), an overview (2 sentences on the main trends), and two body paragraphs grouping and detailing the data with specific figures and comparisons.