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IELTS Writing Task 1 Templates Generator - Academic Version
Interactive templates for all chart types. Plan your Band 9 structure in seconds.
Choose Your Chart Type
📊 Line Graph Template Builder
📄 Introduction (Paraphrase)
Rewrite the task in under 30 words without copying it.
💡 Tips: Never copy the question. Change wording and structure; keep it under 30 words.
🔍 Overview (Main Trends)
Summarise the biggest trends without using numbers.
⚠️ Critical: No specific data in the overview. Only general trends and contrasts.
📖 Body Paragraph 1 (Specific Details)
Describe starting points and major changes with data.
💡 Tips: Include specific numbers, vary trend verbs, and compare data points.
📖 Body Paragraph 2 (Remaining Details)
Cover the other category or contrasting trend with data.
💡 Tips: Compare with the first category and use linking words to highlight differences.
📊 Your Complete Template
📄 Introduction:0 words
🔍 Overview:0 words
📖 Body Paragraphs:0 words
📊 Total:0 words
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Frequently Asked Questions
Including specific numbers. The overview should only describe general trends like “increased significantly” or “was the highest.” Save exact figures for body paragraphs.
Use the word counter. Aim for 150–170 words total. Under 150 loses marks; over 180 wastes time you need for Task 2.
No. Select the most significant features. Highlight starting/ending points, peaks, major changes, highs/lows, and key comparisons.
No. Task 1 is descriptive only. Avoid explanations like “because” or “this shows that.” Just report what you see.
You can still describe numbers and trends. Paraphrase technical terms if needed. The exam tests your English, not subject knowledge.
1) Write a clear overview without numbers, 2) Use varied vocabulary, 3) Make accurate comparisons and keep numbers correct.
Match the chart. Past years = past tense. Future predictions = future forms. No time reference = present tense.
Confused by IELTS Charts? Learn the IELTS Writing Task 1 Templates for All 6 Types in 15 Minutes
You flip open your test booklet. A messy table with 12 data points? A process diagram with 9 stages? A map showing a town before and after?
Here's what happens next for most test-takers: Panic. Confusion. 8 minutes gone trying to figure out what to write. Then a rushed, disorganized response that caps at Band 6.
The problem isn't that you can't write. It's that each of the 6 IELTS chart types needs a different game plan — and nobody tells you what changes.
Until now.
The Universal Framework (Then We Customize It)
Every Task 1 response needs these four paragraphs:
[30 sec] INTRO: Paraphrase what the chart shows [1 min] OVERVIEW: The biggest pattern/change in one sentence [2 min] BODY 1: First major feature + specific data [2 min] BODY 2: Second major feature + comparisons
But here's the trick: what goes in those paragraphs completely changes based on chart type.
Type 1 & 2: Line Graphs + Bar Charts (The Siblings)
These two work almost identically — both show trends over time or comparisons between categories.
Your Outline Strategy:
- Overview: "Overall upward/downward trend" OR "X consistently exceeded Y"
- Body 1: Highest and lowest points with exact figures
- Body 2: Key comparisons between lines/bars
Bad approach: In 2010 coffee was 50k, then in 2012 it was 70k, then in 2015... ❌ Examiner stops reading after sentence 2
Smart outline you write in 5 minutes:
INTRO: The line graph compares sales figures for coffee and tea over an eleven-year period from 2010 to 2020 OVERVIEW: Coffee sales more than doubled while tea remained relatively stable throughout the period BODY 1: Coffee began at 50,000 units in 2010 and surged to a peak of 130,000 in 2018 before declining slightly to 120,000 by 2020 BODY 2: In contrast, tea sales fluctuated minimally between 40,000 and 45,000 units, consistently remaining below coffee sales after 2012
Power phrases for line/bar charts:
- "soared from X to Y"
- "plateaued at approximately X"
- "eclipsed [other category] by X units"
- "experienced a sharp decline"
- "remained stable throughout"
Type 3: Pie Charts (The Percentage Game)
Pie charts aren't about trends — they're about proportions at a specific moment.
Your Outline Strategy:
- Overview: Which category dominates?
- Body 1: Top 2-3 categories with exact percentages
- Body 2: Remaining categories grouped together
Bad approach: Transport is 30%, food is 25%, housing is 20%, entertainment is 15%... ❌ Just reading the chart back
Smart outline you write in 5 minutes:
INTRO: The pie chart illustrates how households allocated their spending across six categories in 2020 OVERVIEW: Transport and food together accounted for over half of all household expenditure BODY 1: Transport represented the largest share at 30%, followed closely by food at 25%, meaning these two categories comprised 55% of the total budget BODY 2: Housing expenditure constituted one-fifth of spending at 20%, while entertainment (15%), utilities (8%), and other expenses (2%) made up the remaining 45%
Power phrases for pie charts:
- "represented the lion's share at X%"
- "accounted for nearly one-third"
- "comprised the smallest proportion"
- "together constituted over half"
Type 4: Tables (The Data Matrix)
Tables are dense with numbers. Don't describe every cell — your job is to find patterns across rows and columns.
Your Outline Strategy:
- Overview: Highest and lowest values in the entire table
- Body 1: Compare across rows (which country/category had highest values)
- Body 2: Compare across columns (how values changed over time)
Bad approach: Robot reading spreadsheet
Smart outline you write in 5 minutes:
INTRO: The table compares internet usage rates across four age brackets in 2015 and 2020 OVERVIEW: All age groups experienced growth, with the 18-25 bracket maintaining the highest usage throughout BODY 1: Young adults aged 18-25 led in both years, rising from 85% to 95%, while those over 60 remained lowest despite increasing from 20% to 38% BODY 2: However, the 60+ demographic showed the most dramatic growth, nearly doubling their usage (90% increase), while younger groups saw more modest gains of 10-18 percentage points
Power phrases for tables:
- "across all categories"
- "experienced the most dramatic increase"
- "remained consistently higher/lower than"
Type 5: Process Diagrams (The Step-by-Step)
Process diagrams show how something is made or works. This isn't about data — it's about sequence.
Your Outline Strategy:
- Overview: Total number of stages + what starts and ends
- Body 1: First half of process in order
- Body 2: Second half leading to final product
Bad approach: Boring numbered list with no flow
Smart outline you write in 5 minutes:
INTRO: The diagram illustrates the nine-stage process of transforming cacao pods into packaged chocolate bars OVERVIEW: The production involves both natural and mechanical stages, beginning with harvesting and ending with packaging BODY 1: The process commences with harvesting ripe cacao pods, which are then split to extract the beans. These beans undergo fermentation for 5-7 days before being sun-dried on large trays, followed by roasting at high temperatures BODY 2: Once roasted, the beans are crushed and shells are removed to separate the nibs, which are subsequently ground into a liquid chocolate paste. In the final stages, this paste is tempered, molded, cooled, and packaged for distribution
Power phrases for process diagrams:
- "the process commences with..."
- "subsequently / following this"
- "once X is complete, Y takes place"
- "the final stage involves..."
Type 6: Maps (The Before/After)
Maps show changes to a location over time — buildings added, roads expanded, areas demolished.
Your Outline Strategy:
- Overview: Major transformation type (urbanization/expansion/development)
- Body 1: What was removed or changed
- Body 2: What was added or newly constructed
Bad approach: Stating obvious without showing transformation
Smart outline you write in 5 minutes:
INTRO: The maps illustrate transformations to a town center between 1990 and 2020 OVERVIEW: The area underwent substantial commercial development, with green space replaced by retail and transport infrastructure BODY 1: The large central park that dominated the 1990 map was completely removed, along with two residential streets on the eastern edge which were demolished BODY 2: In their place, a shopping mall with an adjacent parking lot was constructed in the center, while the former residential streets were replaced by high-rise apartments and an office building. A new main road was built running north-south, though the western residential area remained largely intact
Power phrases for maps:
- "was demolished to make way for..."
- "underwent significant expansion"
- "was erected in the location where X previously stood"
- "to the north/south/east/west of"
The Decision Tree: Which Template Do I Use?
Lines or bars showing change over time? → Line/Bar template
Circle divided into percentages? → Pie chart template
Grid full of numbers? → Table template
Arrows connecting steps/stages? → Process template
Two maps showing before/after? → Map template
Multiple charts combined? Write Body 1 about the first chart, Body 2 about the second.
What Kills Your Score Across All Types
- Describing every single detail (shows you can't identify key features)
- No overview paragraph (automatic Band 6 cap)
- Copying question word-for-word (weak paraphrasing)
- Adding opinions or explanations (Task 1 = describe only)
- Getting numbers wrong (accuracy counts)
- Writing under 150 words (you'll be penalized)
Your 2-Week Practice System
Week 1: Learn the 6 templates
- Day 1-2: Line graphs and bar charts (3 outlines each)
- Day 3-4: Pie charts and tables (3 outlines each)
- Day 5: Process diagrams (2 outlines)
- Day 6: Maps (2 outlines)
- Day 7: Mixed practice (1 outline of each type)
Week 2: Speed and accuracy
- Set timer for 5 minutes per outline (no full writing yet)
- Check: overview, 2-3 key features, specific data
- Days 10-14: Write full 20-minute responses, time yourself
Copy-Paste Checklist for Exam Day
Minute 1: Read question → Identify chart type Minute 2: Find the BIGGEST pattern → Write overview in your head Minute 3: Pick 2-3 key features with data points Minute 4: Paraphrase intro sentence Minute 5-20: Write full response (intro, overview, body 1, body 2) Final check before moving to Task 2: ✓ Did I include an overview? ✓ Did I compare/contrast data, not just list it? ✓ Did I use varied vocabulary? ✓ Did I hit 150+ words?
Your Next Step (Right Now)
- Pick your weakest chart type.
- Find one sample question for that type online.
- Spend exactly 5 minutes writing just the outline.
- Compare with a model answer to see if you spotted the same key features.
Repeat this for 3 different samples of your weak type. Outlines are where Band 7+ starts — you can't write a strong response without a clear plan.