Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
Grammar
Even though, we think that grammar is not as important as lexis (vocabulary), students often want to focus on grammar as it provides some structure or a base to hold on to.
Additionally, Grammatical Range and Accuracy is 1 of the 4 band descriptors you will be graded on for the IELTS writing test. Therefore, grammar accounts for 25% of the overall score.You are assessed on the following 2 things:
- Your ability to produce grammatically accurate sentences, so to write without any mistakes. Examiners look for how many ‘error free’ sentences you have, therefore you need to make sure each, or as many sentences as possible sentence have no errors. Even a small mistake like the wrong article, or forgetting your s in plural counts towards this. This is why it is extremely important to check your work after you finish writing. Always leave two minutes at the end to check your writing and correct your mistakes. Checking for these simple mistakes, that we all make, and correcting them will get you higher score! So, don’t think those 2 minutes are a waste of time they are crucial for your overall score.
- Your ability to use a wide range of grammar structures, to use more complex grammar structures. To score well you will have to have a range of appropriate structures and tenses. Many students try to insert complex sentences and tenses into their answers, This is not how to do it and will result in your answers looking unnatural and you making mistakes. If you write a good answer, complex sentences, such as conditional and relative clauses will flow naturally.
Grammar structures to boost your IELTS writing score:
Overview:
We will have a look at the following grammar:
Describing Trends
In IELTS writing task 1 you will have to describe trends when analysing or comparing graphs. You could use the verb to be or start with a noun phrase.
Verb to be
There + be + adj. + noun + in + a noun phrase
Examples:
- There was a gradual rise in the price of oil.
- There has been a sharp drop in the price of oil.
Noun phrase
Noun phrase + verb + adverb
Examples:
- The price of oil rose gradually.
- The price of oil has risen dramatically.
As you can see in both structures you still need to know the proper vocabulary to describe trends. So, don’t forget to study your verbs, adjectives and adverbs for task 1.
Describing Increases and/or Decreases
In chart of IELTS writing task 1 you will have to describe either increase or decreases. This can be done in 3 different ways. You can again use either the verb to be or a noun phrase, but you can also use fractions.
Verb to be
There + be + noun + in + noun phrase
Examples:
- There was a fall in literacy levels.
- There has been an increase in the cost of coffee.
Noun phrases
Noun phrase + verb + adverb
Example:
- The price of property fell sharply
- The percentage of homes dropped dramatically.
Fractions
Examples:
- The price of oil halved in less than a year.
- The price of oil has halved since July.
- By July, the price of oil has halved.
Making Comparisons
If there is one thing you will always have to do, with academic IELTS writing task 1, is compare data. To compare to things, you will need a comparative structure, to select one above all you’ll use a superlative structure.
Comparatives
More/few/less + noun phrase + than
Example: Overall, more people preferred public transport than taxis.
One syllable -er + than
Example: A higher number of people preferred public transport than taxis.
More/less + adj. of more than one syllable + than
Example: Taxis were more popular than public transport.
Superlatives
One syllable -est.
Example: The highest % of commuters preferred taxis.
The most/least + adj. of more than one syllable.
Example: The least popular mode of transport was buses.
Tenses
In any writing it is important to master your tenses, but especially in Academic writing task 1, where you might need to compare data over different times, the past, present, and the future. The key is to look at the title of the chart as well as the information contained on both axes. This will give you an idea which tense to use.
Examples:
If the time is one point in the past, for example January 1990, then we should use the past tense.
If it has projections for the future, for example 2045, we use future tenses.
It there is no time, we use present simple.
Tenses overview
The tense you will use depends on the information in the graph. It is crucial to have a good understanding of all tenses. The following tense are but a few of the crucial tenses needed for academic writing task 1.
Past Simple
To talk about an action that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
Example: The price of oil fell from $150 in Jan 2014 to $50 in Jan 2015.
As stated before, this is just a small overview of some of the tenses used. For the whole IELTS test you will have to make sure you can deal with all the English tenses. You will also need them for your speaking, your writing task 2, as well as your listening and reading.
So fare our overview of grammar needed for Academic IELTS writing task 1.
Present Perfect
One reason the use the present perfect is to talk about an unspecified action in the past, so we do not really know when it happened, or it is un important. In academic writing task 1, it is used to talk about changes in the data that have happened over a period of time.
Example: The price of oil has fallen by $5 a barrel every week since July.
Present Perfect Continuous
In academic writing task 1 it is used to talk about something that started in the past and has continued until now.
Example: Oil prices have been decreasing since July.
Future Perfect
In Academic writing task 1 it is used to state that something will be finished by a particular time in the future, therefore we often use it with by or in.
Example: The price of oil will have reached $300 a barrel by 2020.
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Writing Task 1
Have a look at an overview of Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
Writing Task 1 Tips & Tricks
Have a look at some of the important tips and tricks to get a better score at Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
Writing Task 1 Grammar
Have a look at some of the grammar needed for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
Writing Task 1 Vocabulary
Have a look at some of the vocabulary needed for the introduction and general overview of Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
Writing Task 1 Graphs
Have a look at how to deal with Graphs, how to analyse, structure, write,…
Writing Task 1 Graphs Examples
Have a look at some of the examples of Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Graphs and see how other people deal with writing them.
Writing Task 1 Graphs Vocabulary Change
Have a look at some Graph Vocabulary to deal with Dynamic Graphs and Changes.
Writing Task 1 Graphs Vocabulary Numbers
Have a look at some Graph Vocabulary to deal with Graphs and Numbers.
Writing Task 1 Graphs Vocabulary Practice
Have a look at some exercises and practice some of the vocabulary used for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Graphs
Writing Task 1 Maps
Have a look at how to deal with Maps, how to analyse, structure, write,…
Writing Task 1 Maps Examples
Have a look at some of the examples of Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Maps and see how other people deal with writing them.
Writing Task 1 Maps Vocabulary
Have a look at some of the vocabulary used for Academic Writing Task 1 Maps
Writing Task 1 Maps Vocabulary Practice
Have a look at some exercises and practice some of the vocabulary used for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Maps
Writing Task 1 Processes
Have a look at how to deal with Processes, how to analyse, structure, write,…
Writing Task 1 Processes Examples
Have a look at some of the examples of Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 Maps and see how other people deal with writing them.
Writing Task 2
Have a look at an overview of IELTS Writing Task 2 and how to deal with it.
