Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 1 Structure

Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 1 structure differs between Academic and General Training, unlike the structure of Writing Task 2, which is the same for both.

For IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic, students get a diagram to describe in at least 150 words; for General Training, they get a letter to write in at least 150 words.

There are different types of AC Task 1 that a student must know. Many students become anxious when they face it in the exam, and usually fail to write coherently. This kills the easy scoring of Task 1, a template-based task, unlike writing an essay, which forces you to brainstorm and write content relevant to the topic.

Band Weightage –

  • Task 1 – 3 Bands
  • Task 2 – 6 Bands

HOWEVER…

Both essays are judged on a score of 9 on four parameters known as Band Descriptors. Then, the IELTS examiners calculate the ratio and total of both tasks to finalize your writing module score. Click here to read them.

IELTS Writing Task 1AcademicGeneral Training
TypesLine Graph, Bar Chart, Pie Chart, Table, Multiple Graphs, Process Diagram, MapsFormal Letter, Informal Letter, Semi-Formal Letter (similar to Informal)
NoteEach topic is different and offers a certain challenge.There is a writing tone difference: contractions are allowed in informal letters but not in formal ones.

If your teacher doesn’t t teach you the marking criteria while coaching you, you have been at the wrong place. IELTS writing is easy, but it’s tricky if you are unaware of the Band descriptors or what the IELTS examiners are looking for. We have even seen that many IELTS institutes in Ludhiana, for example, give band scores in each parameter in decimal, like 5.5 in Task Achievement, 6.5 in Coherence and Cohesion, 4.5 in Grammar Range & Accuracy, and 5.5 in Lexical Resources.

That’s nonsense. When marking a writing task, we always score each parameter in whole numbers, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on, until 9. That’s the IELTS rule.

HOW MANY WORDS TO WRITE? 

Well, you are always given instructions to write at least 150 words. Thus, you should always cross that word limit because IELTS examiners count each word. It’s a part of the Task Achievement band parameter, and you must fulfil it.

Once, the British Council IELTS exam instructors were asked how many words students wrote who scored Band 7+ in the exam. Their answer was simple. For Task 1: 170-180 words, and for Task 2: 270-280. You can write more words if you are good at writing, but that’s unnecessary. 

The mantra is to keep the essay coherent and well-connected. Avoid anything unrelated to the topic.

For instance, in AC Task 1 Writing, remember to give an overall. Whether you write it after the introduction or at the end doesn’t matter as long as it grasps the gist of the diagram.

Thus, write four paragraphs in AC Task 1 and GT Task 2.

Below is the IELTS Writing Task 1  Structure

For Task 1 Academic- General Idea for Structure 

  1. Introduction
  2. Overall
  3. Body Paragraph 1
  4. Body Paragraph 2

Structure for Task 1 Academic

Use the four-paragraph structure given below:

  1. Introduction – Rephrase Question Statement
  2. Overview – Write 3 or 4 key features
  3. Details 1 – Support some key features with data in more detail
  4. Details 2 – Support the remaining key features with data in more detail

Note – There are 2 types of charts when dealing with Line graphs, Pie charts, Bar charts, Tables and Multiple graphs.

Time based – Use trend language in such graphs

For example – if there are two or more years given in a chart, use this language

Comparison based – Use comparison language in such types

For example – if years are not given, use this language.

FOR GT – General Idea for Structure 

  1. Introduction
  2. Bullet Point 1 Explnation
  3. Bullet Point 2 Explanation
  4. Bullet Point 3 explanation
  5. Closing sentence (optional)

Structure for Formal Letters –

Use the four-paragraph structure given below:

  1. First Paragraph – Purpose of Letter – Write why you are writing the letter
  2. Second Paragraph – Discuss the first bullet point in detail
  3. Third Paragraph – Discuss the second bullet point in detail
  4. Fourth Paragraph – Discuss the third bullet point in detail

Sign off

Full Name

Structure for Informal Letters –

Use the four-paragraph structure given below:

  1. First Paragraph – Purpose of Letter – Write why you are writing the letter
  2. Second Paragraph – Discuss the first bullet point in detail
  3. Third Paragraph – Discuss the second bullet point in detail
  4. Fourth Paragraph – Discuss the third bullet point in detail

Sign off

First name only

We have written Band 9 Writing Task 1 Academic and General Training samples from all Cambridge Books. If you have a good command of the English language, you can do it independently; otherwise, we also offer IELTS coaching in Ludhiana, online IELTS Classes through courses and one-to-one private coaching.

Click here to read the IELTS Writing Task 2 Structure.

Nonetheless, we have written Band 7+ writing samples of IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 and IELTS General Task 1 on our website from all the Cambridge Books using the tested structure we teach in our classes. You can read them on our website.