Know which task you are answering
IELTS Academic Writing has two tasks within 60 minutes. Task 1 requires at least 150 words; Task 2 requires at least 250. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1. A practical starting allocation is about 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 for Task 2.
Task 1: make the overview clear
Select and describe the main features of visual information. Group related details, make meaningful comparisons and avoid inventing causes that the information does not show.
Task 2: develop your position
Answer every part of the prompt. Give reasons for your view and explain them with relevant examples. A longer answer is not automatically a better-developed answer.
General Training Task 1 is a letter, so the Academic Task 1 exercise below is not suitable for that task. Check the official format for the test you have booked.
Original Task 1 practice
How a college community travels
The table shows the percentage of journeys to a fictional college made by four forms of transport in 2015 and 2025. Summarise the main features and make relevant comparisons. Write at least 150 words.
| Transport | 2015 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 48% | 31% |
| Bus | 27% | 30% |
| Bicycle | 10% | 24% |
| Walking | 15% | 15% |
Planning notes to check after your first attempt
An overview could identify the decline in the share of car journeys, the rise in cycling, and the unchanged walking figure. Cars remained the largest category, but were only slightly ahead of buses in 2025.
Useful comparisons include the 17-percentage-point fall for cars and the 14-percentage-point rise for bicycles. Do not confuse percentage points with a percentage change. The table does not explain why these changes happened.
One possible structure is an introduction, an overview, then grouped comparisons. These notes suggest content; they are not a model answer or an examiner’s assessment.
Original Task 2 practice
Learning practical skills at school
Some people think schools should spend more time teaching practical skills, such as cooking and managing a household budget. Others believe that academic subjects should remain the priority.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
- Unpack the instruction. You need to discuss both positions and make your own view clear.
- Choose a manageable argument. Two well-explained reasons are more useful than a long list of undeveloped points.
- Connect example and claim. Explain how your example supports the point, rather than leaving the reader to infer the link.
- Check consistency. Your conclusion should follow the position you developed in the answer.
A planning scaffold, not a script to memorise
Introduction: Define the trade-off and state your position.
First main paragraph: Explain a benefit of practical learning, such as applying a calculation to a real household decision.
Second main paragraph: Explain why academic study matters and evaluate how the two priorities might fit together.
Conclusion: Answer the question directly using the reasoning already established. Choose your own position and examples.
Give your draft a focused review
- Underline the sentence that answers the main question. Is it easy to find?
- Check that each paragraph has a purpose and develops one main point.
- Circle words you are unsure about. A familiar, accurate word is often better than an ambitious but unsuitable one.
- Read for repeated grammar issues, such as missing articles, agreement or incomplete sentences.
Your practice notepad
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Test-format facts checked against the official IELTS Writing format on 14 October 2026. Teaching tips and practice prompts on this page are original. Check the official guidance for your chosen test type and delivery format.