Academic Writing Course: Task 1

Mastering the Introduction

The easiest part of IELTS when you know these simple rules!

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Examiner Expectations

Type of data: Understood the type of data presented.
Identified the time period (if any).

Noted the units of measurement (if any).

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Must Include

Chart/graph type

What it shows

Location (if given)

Time period (if given)

Units of measurement

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Must Avoid

Specific data/numbers

Background information

Personal opinions

Copying question verbatim

Long introductions (>2 sentences)

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Time Tips

Spend ≤1 minute

Memorize templates

Practice daily

Use present tense

Keep it simple

🧩 Introduction Formulas

Single Graph Formula (Click to view) +

The [graph/chart/table] provides information about [what] in [where] over [when].

Example:

“The line graph shows changes in average temperatures in London between January and December 2020.”

Multiple Graphs Formula (Click to view) +

The [first graph type] provides information about [what], while the [second graph type] shows [what].

Example:

“The bar chart displays monthly rainfall figures for Brazil in 2020, while the line graph compares these with the 10-year average.”

📌 Vocabulary Bank

Starting Words Chart Types Verbs Description

The given
The supplied
The presented bar graph
pie chart
line graph shows
represents
illustrates the number of
the proportion of
comparative data

The shown
The provided table
diagram
flow chart provides
depicts
outlines how [noun] changed
data about
information on

✏️ Paraphrasing Techniques

🔄 Word Form Changes (Click to view) +

contribute → contribution

Original:

“The graph shows how people contributed…”

Paraphrased:

“The graph shows the contribution of people…”

🔃 Active to Passive (Click to view) +

Active:

“Children used the books…”

Passive:

“The books were used by children…”

📚 Synonyms (Click to view) +

bought → purchased

Original:

“The number of cars bought…”

Paraphrased:

“The number of cars purchased…”

⚙️ Grammar Tips

✅ Tense Usage

Use present simple even if the data is in the past.

“The chart shows sales from 1990-2000.” (Not “showed”)

✅ Subject-Verb Agreement

Add -s to verbs when the subject is singular.

“The graph shows…” (Single)
“The graphs show…” (Multiple)

📘 Examples

Single Graph Example (Click to view) +

Prompt: “The graph shows the number of tourists visiting three different countries between 2010 and 2020.”

“The given line graph illustrates how many tourists visited three countries between 2010 and 2020.”

Multiple Graphs Example (Click to view) +

Prompt: “The bar chart shows the spending on education in five countries in 2015, while the pie chart shows the age distribution of students.”

“The bar graph presents data on education expenditure in five countries in 2015, while the pie chart provides a breakdown of student ages.”

Practice Activity

Original Question: “The table below shows the percentage of households with various electronic items in a European country from 1995 to 2015.”

Sample Answer:

“The given table illustrates the proportion of homes possessing different electronic devices in a European nation between 1995 and 2015.”

Build Your Introduction

Drag these elements into the correct order:

The bar chart

illustrates

the distribution of internet users by age

in Thailand

from 1998 to 2000

“The bar chart illustrates the distribution of internet users by age in Thailand from 1998 to 2000.”

⏱️ Timing

Spend no more than 1 minute writing your introduction!

Practice with our interactive exercises to build speed.

// Flip card functionality function flipCard(card) { const inner = card.querySelector(‘.flip-card-inner’); inner.style.transform = inner.style.transform === ‘rotateY(180deg)’ ? ‘rotateY(0deg)’ : ‘rotateY(180deg)’; } // Toggle sections function toggleSection(element) { const content = element.nextElementSibling; const icon = element.querySelector(‘span:last-child’); content.style.display = content.style.display === ‘block’ ? ‘none’ : ‘block’; icon.textContent = content.style.display === ‘block’ ? ‘-‘ : ‘+’; } // Practice answer check function checkPracticeAnswer() { const answer = document.getElementById(‘student-answer’).value.toLowerCase(); const feedback = document.getElementById(‘practice-feedback’); const sample = document.getElementById(‘sample-answer’); if (answer.includes(‘table’) && (answer.includes(‘percentage’) || answer.includes(‘proportion’)) && (answer.includes(‘households’) || answer.includes(‘homes’)) && answer.includes(‘electronic’) && (answer.includes(‘1995’) || answer.includes(‘2015’))) { feedback.innerHTML = ‘✓ Excellent! You included all key elements.‘; sample.style.display = ‘none’; } else { feedback.innerHTML = ‘✗ Almost there! Make sure to include: table + what + where + when.‘; sample.style.display = ‘block’; } } // Drag and drop functionality let draggedItem = null; document.querySelectorAll(‘[draggable=”true”]’).forEach(item => { item.addEventListener(‘dragstart’, function(e) { draggedItem = this; setTimeout(() => this.style.opacity = ‘0.4’, 0); }); item.addEventListener(‘dragend’, function() { setTimeout(() => this.style.opacity = ‘1’, 0); }); }); document.getElementById(‘sortable-intro’).addEventListener(‘dragover’, function(e) { e.preventDefault(); }); document.getElementById(‘sortable-intro’).addEventListener(‘drop’, function(e) { e.preventDefault(); if (draggedItem && !this.contains(draggedItem)) { this.appendChild(draggedItem); } }); // Check order function function checkOrder() { const items = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(‘#sortable-intro > div’)); let correct = true; items.forEach((item, index) => { if (parseInt(item.getAttribute(‘data-correct’)) !== index + 1) { correct = false; } }); const feedback = document.getElementById(‘order-feedback’); const correctAnswer = document.getElementById(‘correct-answer’); if (correct) { feedback.innerHTML = ‘✓ Perfect! This introduction includes all key elements in the right order.‘; correctAnswer.style.display = ‘none’; } else { feedback.innerHTML = ‘✗ Not quite right. Remember the structure: Chart type → Verb → What → Where → When‘; correctAnswer.style.display = ‘block’; } }