Achieve ielts academic Writing Success

Introduction 
(1 – 2 sentences)
Restate question
o
WHAT is being
shown in the diagram?
o
WHAT is being
measured?
o
HOW is it being
measured?
o
WHEN is it being
measured?
(Optional: Brief overview of a
significant trend OR statement
about how information is
presented)
Main Body Paragraph #1
(3 – 6 sentences)
Reports
statistics/data
o
Compares
o
Contrasts
o
Identifies
trends
Main Body Paragraph #2
(length varies)
Reports
statistics/data
o
Compares
o
Contrasts
o
Identifies
trends
Conclusion 
(1 sentence)
·
Begins with “In
conclusion,” or
“To sum up,”
 

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Task One Question 1
 
You should spend 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart illustrates the use of cheques and electronic payments
in New Zealand between 1993 and 2003.
 
Summarise the information by reporting and selecting the main
features of the graph and making appropriate comparisons where
relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Task 1 Essay
Let’s look at how the template is used to organise a Task 1 essay.

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Introduction 
(1 – 2 sentences)
Restate question
o
WHAT is being shown
in the diagram?
o
WHAT is being
measured?
o
HOW is it being
measured?
o
WHEN is it being
measured?
The bar chart shows the percentage of people
in New Zealand using cheque, direct debit
cards and credit cards to make payments,
between 1993 and 2003. 
(Optional: Brief overview of a
significant trend OR statement
about how information is
presented)
Overall, the use of cheques decreased while
the use of direct debit cards increased.

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Main Body Paragraph #1
(3 – 6 sentences)
Reports
statistics/data
o
Compares
o
Contrasts
o
Identifies trends
To begin, in 1993, cheques were by far the most
popular payment method, at 55%, while direct debit
cards and credit cards accounted for only 8% and
5%, respectively. After 1993, however, the
percentage of people using cheques steadily
decreased, finishing at only 11% in 2003. 
Conversely, direct debit cards increased in popularity,
showing an upward trend in use until 2003, when
almost 40% of all purchases were made by direct
debit card. Credit card usage remained relatively
stable; the use of credit cards rose in a fluctuating
trend. The percentage of people using credit cards
was equal to the percentage of people using cheques
in 2001 (15%). In the final year shown on the chart
(2003), credit card use accounted for approximately
12% of the total percentage of payments.

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Main Body Paragraph #2 (length varies)