Academic Task 1 worked model
IELTS Academic Task 1 sample band 7
Below is a complete band 7+ Academic Task 1 answer for a line graph task, broken into introduction, overview and body paragraphs. Examiner-style notes explain what each part does for your score, plus a before and after of one weak sentence so you can see the upgrade in practice.
In short
- Paraphrase the prompt, then write a clear overview of the main trends before any numbers.
- Group the data into two body paragraphs and support each point with selected figures.
- Aim for 160 to 190 words, varied comparison language, and accurate numbers with few errors.
The task and the full sample
Sample prompt: The line graph shows the number of visitors, in millions, to three museums in one city between 2010 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. The model answer below is 178 words.
Introduction. The line graph illustrates how many people, measured in millions, visited three city museums over a ten-year period from 2010 to 2020.
Overview. Overall, visitor numbers at the Art Museum rose steadily and ended highest, whereas the History Museum saw a marked decline. The Science Museum fluctuated but finished close to where it began, making it the most stable of the three.
Body 1. In 2010, the History Museum led with roughly 4 million visitors, well above the Art Museum at 2.5 million. By 2020, however, this had reversed: the Art Museum had climbed to about 5 million, while the History Museum had fallen to under 2 million, its lowest point in the period.
Body 2. The Science Museum followed a less predictable path. After peaking at around 3.5 million in 2014, numbers dipped sharply in 2016 before recovering to approximately 3 million by 2020, almost identical to its 2010 figure.
Why each part scores
IELTS Academic Task 1 is marked on four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. The table maps the model answer onto what an examiner is checking for at band 7.
| Criterion | What band 7 needs | Where the sample delivers it |
|---|---|---|
| Task Achievement | Clear overview, key features covered, accurate selected data, 150+ words | A no-number overview naming the rise, decline and stable trend; figures support each claim |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Logical paragraphing and linking that guides the reader | Data grouped into two body paragraphs; "however", "whereas", "after" signal the comparisons |
| Lexical Resource | Varied, accurate vocabulary for trends and comparison | "rose steadily", "marked decline", "fluctuated", "peaked", "dipped sharply" avoid repetition |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | A mix of structures with mostly error-free sentences | Past simple, past perfect ("had climbed") and approximators ("about", "roughly") used correctly |
Before and after: fixing one weak sentence
Many band 6 answers lose marks by listing every figure with no comparison and no precise trend verb. Here is a typical weak line from the same task, and the band 7 rewrite.
Before (band 6)
"In 2010 the History Museum was 4 million and the Art Museum was 2.5 million and in 2020 the History Museum was 2 million and the Art Museum was 5 million."
After (band 7)
"In 2010, the History Museum led with roughly 4 million visitors, well above the Art Museum at 2.5 million. By 2020, however, this had reversed."
The rewrite groups the two museums into one comparison, swaps the repeated "was" for "led with" and "well above", adds an approximator, and uses "had reversed" to flag the change. Same data, but the reader now sees the relationship, which is exactly what Task Achievement rewards.
IELTS Academic Task 1 sample questions
What makes an IELTS Academic Task 1 answer band 7 not band 6+
A band 7 covers all key features with a clear overview, selects and groups data instead of listing every figure, and uses varied comparison language with few errors. Band 6 often lists numbers, misses the overview, and repeats the same structures.
How long should an IELTS Academic Task 1 answer be+
Write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. There is no upper limit, but most band 7 answers land between 160 and 190 words. Writing under 150 words is penalised under Task Achievement, so always check your length.
Do I need an overview in Academic Task 1+
Yes. The overview is the single most important sentence for Task Achievement. It states the main trends or biggest differences without specific numbers. Answers with no clear overview are usually capped at band 5 for that criterion, however accurate the rest is.
Should I include my own opinion in Academic Task 1+
No. Academic Task 1 is a factual report of the visual. Do not add opinions, reasons, or predictions that the data does not show. Adding personal views or invented causes lowers Task Achievement because the response moves beyond what the chart presents.
How many body paragraphs should Academic Task 1 have+
Usually two. Group the data into logical sets, for example highest versus lowest, or start versus end, and give each group its own paragraph. Two focused body paragraphs read more clearly than one long list and help your Coherence and Cohesion score.