Academic IELTS writing task 1 is also called as report writing.

Types:

During academic IELTS writing task 1 students are asked to write a report of minimum 150 words in 20 minutes of allowable time.

There are seven different types of diagrams provided to write a report in writing task 1.

• Bar graph
  • Can show comparisons across categories or time.
  • Useful for describing highest/lowest figures and contrasts.
  • Example: Percentage of smokers in different countries.
• Line Graph
  • Show changes/trends over time.
  • Use time expressions (e.g., in 2000, over the next decade, peaked at, declined steadily).
  • Example: Internet users from 2000–2020.
• Pie Chart
  • Show proportions/percentages of a whole.
  • Use vocabulary: “accounted for,” “comprised,” “made up.”
  • Example: Energy sources in 2020.
• Table Chart
  • Contain numerical data in rows/columns.
  • Similar to bar/line graphs but require clear comparisons and grouping.
  • Example: Population growth in 5 cities from 1990 to 2010.
• Map / Layout
  • Show changes in locations, layouts, or land use.
  • Use location prepositions (north of, adjacent to, replaced by, expanded).
  • Example: A town in 1990 vs. 2010.
• Process Diagram / Flow Chart
  • Show steps in a natural or man-made process.
  • Use passive voice (e.g., “The mixture is heated,” “Water is filtered”).
  • Example: How coffee is produced / Life cycle of a butterfly.
• Mix Diagram
  • Combination of 2 or more visuals (e.g., bar + line graph, table + pie chart).
  • You must connect and compare both sources of data.
  • Example: Line graph of population + pie chart of age groups.

Summary:

Type	What to Do	Key Language
Line Graph	Show trends over time	rose, fell, peaked, remained steady
Bar Chart	Compare categories	higher than, the lowest, in contrast
Table	Compare numbers	accounted for, a small increase
Pie Chart	Show proportions	made up, represented, majority/minority
Map	Describe changes in layout	replaced by, expanded, to the north of
Process	Explain steps/stages	first, then, subsequently, finally
Mixed Graph	Combine two sources	overall, whereas, in comparison