You are given a visual — a graph, chart, table, map, or diagram — and asked to summarise or describe it in at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. You do not give your opinion. You describe and compare what you see.
Common Task 1 visual types
Match each visual type with what it requires:
📈 Line graph
→ What does it typically show?
Changes over time — trends, rises, falls, fluctuations. Language focus: trend verbs and adverbs (rose sharply, declined gradually, levelled off).
📊 Bar chart
→ What does it typically show?
Comparisons between categories at one or more points in time. Language focus: comparatives and superlatives (the highest proportion / significantly more than / twice as many).
🥧 Pie chart
→ What does it typically show?
Proportions of a whole — how something is divided. Language focus: fractions, percentages and proportion language (accounted for / made up / the largest share).
⚙️ Process diagram
→ What does it typically show?
A sequence of stages — how something is made, produced, or happens. Language focus: passive voice and sequence markers (first / then / subsequently / finally / is processed / are transported).
The four-part Task 1 structure
Introduction — paraphrase what the visual shows (never copy the question) Overview — summarise the most important overall trend or comparison (2–3 sentences, no data) Body paragraph 1 — describe key data with specific figures Body paragraph 2 — describe remaining data or comparisons with specific figures
Think about this:
Why is the "overview" paragraph so important in Task 1? What would be missing from an essay that contained only detailed data but no overall summary?
How to write a Task 1 introduction
The introduction paraphrases what the visual shows. Use one of these sentence patterns and change the key vocabulary — never copy the task question word for word.
The graph shows [what percentage / the number / what proportion] of [subject] [verb phrase] [time frame / context].
The graph shows what percentage of households in five countries owned a computer between 1990 and 2010.
The [chart / graph / table / diagram] illustrates [information about] [subject] [time period / region].
The bar chart illustrates information about consumer spending on different categories of goods in the UK in 2022.
The [diagram / flow chart] shows the process by which [something] is [produced / manufactured / generated].
The diagram shows the process by which solar energy is converted into electricity for household use.
Paraphrase practice
Read each original task question and write an introduction sentence. Then check the model.
Task: "The graph below shows the percentage of people in three age groups who used social media daily in the UK between 2010 and 2020."
→ Paraphrase for your introduction (change the key words).
"The line graph illustrates the proportion of individuals across three age groups who engaged with social media on a daily basis in the United Kingdom over a ten-year period from 2010 to 2020."
Task: "The chart below shows how the average household spends its income in five different countries."
→ Paraphrase for your introduction.
"The bar chart provides information about the distribution of household expenditure across five nations."
Discuss:
What synonyms can you think of for "shows", "graph", "percentage", "people", and "between 2010 and 2020"? Building a mental vocabulary list for these common Task 1 words is a useful exam preparation strategy.
Describing trends: verbs, nouns and adverbs
A strong Task 1 answer uses varied vocabulary to describe changes. Click each card to see how the word is used.
Rise / increase ↑
rose / increasedGeneral upward movement. The number of users rose steadily from 2010 to 2018.
surged / soaredSharp, dramatic rise. Sales surged in the final quarter of the year.
a gradual rise / a sharp increaseNoun form — use after "there was" or "saw". There was a gradual rise in temperatures between 1980 and 2000.
Fall / decrease ↓
fell / declined / droppedGeneral downward movement. Unemployment fell significantly over the decade.
plummeted / plungedDramatic, sudden fall. Share prices plummeted following the announcement.
a steady decline / a dramatic dropNoun form. The data shows a steady decline in coal usage from 2005 onwards.
Stable / fluctuating ↔
levelled off / remained stableNo significant change after movement. After rising sharply, the figure levelled off at around 60%.
fluctuatedWent up and down irregularly. The exchange rate fluctuated considerably throughout the year.
peaked at / reached a peak ofReached the highest point. Visitor numbers peaked at 2.3 million in July.
Adverbs of degree and manner
What each adverb tells the reader:
dramatically / sharply — a very large, sudden change
gradually / steadily — a slow, consistent change over time
slightly / marginally — a small, minor change
significantly / considerably — a noticeable change worth mentioning
Data: internet usage in Germany → 25% in 2000, then 89% by 2020
→ Describe this trend in one sentence using trend language.
"Internet usage in Germany rose dramatically from 25% in 2000 to 89% by 2020, representing a more than threefold increase over two decades."
Discuss:
Think of a trend you've noticed in your country over the last 10–20 years — in technology, population, employment, or something else. Can you describe it using three different trend words?
Describing processes: passive voice and sequence
Process diagrams describe how something is made or happens. They require the passive voice (because the focus is on the thing being processed, not who does it) and sequence markers to show order.
Why passive voice for processes?
Compare: "Workers heat the material." (active) → Focus on the worker. "The material is heated." (passive) → Focus on the material — correct for a process description.
Passive voice patterns
is / are + past participlePresent passive — for general or ongoing processes. The material is filtered to remove impurities.
is / are then + p.p.Sequence within the passive. The liquid is then heated to 100°C.
is / are transported toMovement passive. The finished product is transported to a distribution centre.
Once … has been [p.p.], it isSequencing complex steps. Once the material has been processed, it is packaged and sealed.
Sequence markers for processes
Order these sequence markers from beginning to end:
subsequently — first — finally — once this is complete — next — at this stage — then
First → Next / Then → At this stage / Subsequently → Once this is complete → Finally
Model process: How delivery drones work
1
Order placed
Customer submits an order via an app
2
Package prepared
Item is retrieved and loaded into drone
3
Flight
Drone is dispatched and navigates via GPS
4
Delivery
Package is lowered and drone returns
Write a two-sentence description of this process using passive voice and sequence markers:
"First, a customer order is received and the relevant item is retrieved from storage and loaded into the drone. The drone is then dispatched and guided to the delivery address via GPS, where the package is lowered to the customer before the drone automatically returns to the depot."
Active: "Workers press the grapes and collect the juice in large vats."
→ Rewrite in passive voice.
"The grapes are pressed and the juice is collected in large vats."
Discuss:
Think of a simple process you know well — making coffee, recycling a bottle, downloading an app. Can you describe it in four steps using passive voice?
Practice write
Choose one of the Task 1 scenarios below and write a complete response. Aim for 150–185 words in 20 minutes.
Option A — Line graph (shopping trends):
The graph below shows the percentage of consumers in four age groups who shopped online at least once per month between 2010 and 2022.
Age Group
2010
2014
2018
2022
18–25
35%
55%
78%
91%
26–40
22%
40%
62%
85%
41–60
10%
20%
38%
60%
61+
3%
8%
16%
34%
Option B — Process (water purification):
The diagram below illustrates the stages involved in purifying drinking water. Describe the process in your own words.
Stages: River water collected → Large debris filtered (screens) → Chemical treatment (chlorine + coagulants) → Sediment settles in tanks → Sand/gravel filtration → UV light treatment → Safe water stored in reservoir → Pumped to homes