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8)
 
Appropriate data selection 
There are no mistakes in the data taken from the graph. In addition, all the important data is 
selected and compared. It is probably not possible to describe every point or change in the 
graph, especially if it is more complex like the one above, and you should not try to do this as 
you need to show you can identify the key points. For example, the change in Denmark is 
described in two sentences. The writer has only needed to identify where it began (60%) and 
where it ended (10%) because it more or less goes straight down with only minor changes 
along the way: 
Denmark’s production of energy from coal stood at 60% in 1995, higher than the 
other four countries. However, production levels dropped sharply over the next 15 
years to finish at 10% in 2010, which was the lowest of that year.
Any more data would be too much detail. The data from Germany is described in one 
sentence: 
Energy production from coal in Germany followed a similar pattern, beginning the 
period at just under 60% and falling significantly, though unlike Denmark it fell to a 
low of only 5% in 2007 and then increased again to approximately 18%.
_________________________________________________________ 
9)
 
Accurate grammar 
There are no grammar errors (of course it is unlikely you will achieve this as a non-native 
writer of English, but the more accurate your grammar the better). 
The correct tense is also used throughout – past simple because the graph represents a 
finished time in the past. 
Summary 
These are the key elements then that you need for a high scoring task 1. When you write a 
task 1, use it as a checklist to examine your own answer. 
You can practice the language further in this 
online gap fill exercise
. 

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IELTS Made Easy: Step-by-step guide to writing a Task 1. Copyright © 2013. IELTS buddy. All rights reserved. No part of this eBook or any of 
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