⚡ TL;DR
Step-by-step guide to answering this type of IELTS Writing Task 1 question. Covers structure, key language, and band-scoring criteria.
Originally published October 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will be able to view an essay example from a past student, with the corrections and feedback highlighted in red.
Most of the students studying for the IELTS Test have said they find the IELTS Writing Tasks difficult. I have corrected hundreds of task 1 and 2 essays on various topics, giving estimated band scores and detailed feedback. There are also suggestions on how to improve for a higher band score. Take a look at this student essay example and see how it compares to your own writing.
Writing Task 1 Question
Here is the task 1 essay with corrections, suggestions, feedback and an estimated band score >>
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What Band 9 Means for Task 1 Academic
A Band 9 response in IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic demonstrates a high level of competence across all four assessment criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
Task Achievement at Band 9
The response fully satisfies all requirements, presents a clear overview, and accurately selects and reports key features with well-chosen supporting detail.
Coherence and Cohesion at Band 9
Information and ideas are logically organised with clear progression throughout. Paragraphing is managed skillfully, and cohesive devices are used appropriately.
How to Achieve Band 9
- Analyse the visual data carefully: Spend 2-3 minutes identifying the main trends, key features, and notable comparisons before writing.
- Write a clear overview: Summarise the most significant patterns in 2-3 sentences without including specific data.
- Select and group information: Present data in logical paragraphs organised by trend, category, or time period.
- Use accurate data: Reference specific numbers, percentages, and dates from the visual to support your descriptions.
- Vary your language: Use a range of vocabulary for describing trends (increased, rose sharply, remained stable, declined gradually).
Originally published on IELTS Achieve. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.