IELTS Academic Preparation Course: Writing Task 1: describing data

1. Vraag 1 van 17

   In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, how many words should you write, and about how long should you spend?

   • AAt least 250 words in about 40 minutes
   • BAt least 150 words in about 20 minutes
   • CAt least 150 words in about 40 minutes
   • DAt least 100 words in about 20 minutes
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. At least 150 words in about 20 minutes

   Task 1 needs at least 150 words and should take about 20 minutes. Task 2 needs at least 250 words, in no more than 40 minutes.

2. Vraag 2 van 17

   Which of these could you be asked to describe in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1?

   • AA letter to a friend about a recent holiday
   • BA short story with a surprising ending
   • CA diagram showing the stages of a process
   • DAn argument about a social problem and its causes
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C. A diagram showing the stages of a process

   Academic Task 1 shows a graph, table, chart or diagram (for example of a process). Letters are a General Training task, and arguments belong in Task 2.

3. Vraag 3 van 17

   What style should you use in Academic Writing Task 1?

   • AA personal story with lots of feelings
   • BA chatty, informal style, as if to a friend
   • CAcademic or semi-formal and neutral
   • DShort notes and bullet points
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C. Academic or semi-formal and neutral

   The official format page asks for an academic or semi-formal/neutral style. Notes and bullet points are penalised.

4. Vraag 4 van 17

   In Academic Writing Task 1, should you explain possible reasons for the changes in a graph?

   • AYes. Always end with your personal opinion
   • BNo. Describe only what the information shows
   • COnly if the graph shows a fall
   • DYes. Give a reason for every change
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. No. Describe only what the information shows

   Task 1 is an information-transfer task. The official criteria say you should report the data, not give speculative explanations that lie outside it.

5. Vraag 5 van 17

   What does the official IELTS writing advice say a good Academic Task 1 response should include?

   • AEvery number from the chart, in the same order
   • BA recommendation for what should happen next
   • CA title, and a heading for each paragraph
   • DA clear overview of the main trends or differences
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D. A clear overview of the main trends or differences

   The official advice is to summarise the key features, such as main trends or differences, and include a clear overview, supported by relevant figures.

6. Vraag 6 van 17

   Which word describes a sudden, large rise?

   • Alevelled off
   • Bdeclined
   • Cdipped
   • Dsoared
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D. soared

   "Soared" means rose quickly to a high level. "Dipped" and "declined" describe falls, and "levelled off" means stopped changing.

7. Vraag 7 van 17

   Look at the table. Which sentence is the best overview?

   The table shows the percentage of commuters in a town called Northfield who used each type of transport in 2005 and 2025.

   Type of transport	2005 (%)	2025 (%)
   Car	58	41
   Bus	22	24
   Train	9	15
   Bicycle	4	12
   Walking	7	8

   • ACar use fell but stayed highest, while all other types of transport grew.
   • BThe total number of commuters in Northfield grew over the period.
   • CThe bus showed the biggest increase of all the types of transport over the period.
   • DCar use doubled, while fewer people travelled by bus and by train.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A. Car use fell but stayed highest, while all other types of transport grew.

   An overview gives the main features: car use fell (58% to 41%) but stayed highest, and all the others rose. The table shows percentages, not the number of commuters.

8. Vraag 8 van 17

   Look at the table. Which type of transport had the largest increase in percentage points from 2005 to 2025?

   The table shows the percentage of commuters in a town called Northfield who used each type of transport in 2005 and 2025.

   Type of transport	2005 (%)	2025 (%)
   Car	58	41
   Bus	22	24
   Train	9	15
   Bicycle	4	12
   Walking	7	8

   • ABicycle
   • BWalking
   • CTrain
   • DBus
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A. Bicycle

   Bicycle rose by 8 points (4% to 12%), train by 6, bus by 2 and walking by 1. Compare the change, not the final figure.

9. Vraag 9 van 17

   Look at the table. By how many percentage points did the share of commuters using a car fall?

   The table shows the percentage of commuters in a town called Northfield who used each type of transport in 2005 and 2025.

   Type of transport	2005 (%)	2025 (%)
   Car	58	41
   Bus	22	24
   Train	9	15
   Bicycle	4	12
   Walking	7	8

   • A17
   • B58
   • C41
   • D27
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A. 17

   58 − 41 = 17 percentage points. 41 and 58 are the two values, not the change.

10. Vraag 10 van 17

    Look at the table. Which sentence about cycling is accurate?

    The table shows the percentage of commuters in a town called Northfield who used each type of transport in 2005 and 2025.

    Type of transport	2005 (%)	2025 (%)
    Car	58	41
    Bus	22	24
    Train	9	15
    Bicycle	4	12
    Walking	7	8

    • AThe share of commuters who cycled rose eightfold.
    • BThe share of commuters who cycled doubled.
    • CThe share of commuters who cycled rose by 12 percentage points.
    • DThe share of commuters who cycled tripled.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. The share of commuters who cycled tripled.

    Cycling went from 4% to 12%, and 12 ÷ 4 = 3, so it tripled. The rise was 8 percentage points, not 12.

11. Vraag 11 van 17

    Look at the table. Which sentence is accurate?

    The table shows the percentage of commuters in a town called Northfield who used each type of transport in 2005 and 2025.

    Type of transport	2005 (%)	2025 (%)
    Car	58	41
    Bus	22	24
    Train	9	15
    Bicycle	4	12
    Walking	7	8

    • AIn 2025, more commuters walked to work than cycled to work.
    • BBus use fell slightly between 2005 and 2025, from 24% to 22%.
    • CThe share of commuters travelling by train rose from 9% to 15%.
    • DIn 2005, walking was the least popular type of transport.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. The share of commuters travelling by train rose from 9% to 15%.

    Train use rose from 9% to 15%. In 2025 cycling (12%) was above walking (8%), bus use rose slightly, and in 2005 cycling (4%) was the least popular.

12. Vraag 12 van 17

    Look at the table. Which sentence is the best way to begin describing this process?

    The table describes a diagram of the stages in producing recycled paper.

    Stage	Wat er gebeurt
    1	Used paper is collected
    2	Paper is sorted by type
    3	Paper is mixed with water to make pulp
    4	Ink is removed from the pulp
    5	Pulp is pressed and dried
    6	New paper is rolled for delivery

    • ARecycling paper is the most important way to protect the world's forests.
    • BFirst of all, the used paper is mixed with water to make a pulp.
    • CThe process has six stages, from collecting used paper to rolling new paper.
    • DI believe that everyone should recycle much more paper, both at home and at work.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. The process has six stages, from collecting used paper to rolling new paper.

    A good opening gives an overview of the whole process: how many stages, where it starts and where it ends. Opinions do not belong in Task 1, and pulping is not the first stage.

13. Vraag 13 van 17

    Look at the table. Which sentence uses the passive correctly to describe stage 2?

    The table describes a diagram of the stages in producing recycled paper.

    Stage	Wat er gebeurt
    1	Used paper is collected
    2	Paper is sorted by type
    3	Paper is mixed with water to make pulp
    4	Ink is removed from the pulp
    5	Pulp is pressed and dried
    6	New paper is rolled for delivery

    • AThe paper sorts by type.
    • BThe paper is sort by type.
    • CThe paper sorting by type.
    • DThe paper is sorted by type.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. The paper is sorted by type.

    Processes are often described with the passive: is/are + past participle ("is sorted"). The other options have grammar mistakes.

14. Vraag 14 van 17

    Look at the table. Choose the best word for the gap: "The paper is mixed with water to make pulp. ________, the ink is removed."

    The table describes a diagram of the stages in producing recycled paper.

    Stage	Wat er gebeurt
    1	Used paper is collected
    2	Paper is sorted by type
    3	Paper is mixed with water to make pulp
    4	Ink is removed from the pulp
    5	Pulp is pressed and dried
    6	New paper is rolled for delivery

    • ANext
    • BAlthough
    • CBecause
    • DHowever
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: A. Next

    "Next" shows the order of stages. "However" shows contrast, and "although" and "because" must join two clauses in one sentence.

15. Vraag 15 van 17

    Look at the table. Which phrase best describes the figures for 2023 and 2024?

    The table shows the number of international students at one university from 2019 to 2024.

    Jaar	International students
    2019	1,200
    2020	900
    2021	950
    2022	1,400
    2023	1,800
    2024	1,800

    • Afluctuated around 1,800
    • Brose sharply to 1,800
    • Cfell slightly to 1,800
    • Dlevelled off at 1,800
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. levelled off at 1,800

    The number was 1,800 in both years, so it levelled off (stayed the same). "Fluctuated" means went up and down.

16. Vraag 16 van 17

    Look at the table. By what percentage did the number of international students fall from 2019 to 2020?

    The table shows the number of international students at one university from 2019 to 2024.

    Jaar	International students
    2019	1,200
    2020	900
    2021	950
    2022	1,400
    2023	1,800
    2024	1,800

    • A25%
    • B33%
    • C300%
    • D30%
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: A. 25%

    The fall was 1,200 − 900 = 300. 300 ÷ 1,200 = 0.25, so 25%. Dividing by the new figure (300 ÷ 900) gives 33%, which is a common mistake.

17. Vraag 17 van 17

    Look at the table. Which sentence accurately summarises the whole period?

    The table shows the number of international students at one university from 2019 to 2024.

    Jaar	International students
    2019	1,200
    2020	900
    2021	950
    2022	1,400
    2023	1,800
    2024	1,800

    • AThe number of students was lower at the end than at the start.
    • BThe number of students doubled between 2019 and 2024.
    • CDespite a fall in 2020, numbers rose overall, ending 50% higher.
    • DThe number of students rose steadily every year from 2019 to 2024.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. Despite a fall in 2020, numbers rose overall, ending 50% higher.

    1,800 ÷ 1,200 = 1.5, so the final figure was 50% higher, not double. Numbers did not rise every year: they fell in 2020 and stayed the same in 2024.

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