IELTS Writing Topics for Tasks 1 & 2

IELTS General Writing Topics for Task 1

Advice

1. A member of your family is thinking about going to university.
Write a letter to your family member explaining why some people go to university, why some prefer universities far from home, and which courses you think would be interesting and/or useful.

2. A family member has recently had a baby and is overwhelmed by parenting.
Write a letter encouraging the young couple in their new parental role, explaining why you think that parents are the best teachers, and offering support (suggestions for organizations they could turn to, financial, babysitting, etc.)

Complaint

1. You are an international student studying English at a private language school. Your courses were expensive, and you are disappointed with the quality of instruction, materials, and the time keeping of the other students.
In an email to the School Principal, complain about the situation, and suggest how you would like the issue to be resolved.

2. You recently stayed in a hotel where the service was slow and the room was dirty.
Write an email to the hotel manager complaining about the accommodation and suggesting how the issue might be resolved.

3. You recently ordered a book from an online bookseller. The book you’ve received is not the latest edition, even though you paid extra for the latest edition version. Write an email to the bookseller complaining about the service ,explaining the urgency for the latest edition, describing why the earlier edition is inadequate. 

4. You recently visited a zoo where a man died after falling into the tigers’ enclosure. You were unable to do anything but wanted to show your concern for visitors’ safety. Write an email to the zoo’s director describing the incident, complaining about the short fencing, and showing concern for visitors’ safety.  

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Apology

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1. You work part-time as an Uber driver but forgot to pick up a customer that you had agreed to transport to the airport. Write a letter to the client apologizing for not picking him up, explaining why you didn’t pick him up, and offering him a free ride.

2. While shopping in the supermarket, you accidently hit a display with your shopping cart. The display fell onto an young child and hurt him. Write a letter to the child’s mother apologizing for hurting her child, explaining what happened, and expressing concern for the child’s welfare.

Request

1. You have registered for a six-month computer training program at Sambro Community College. Therefore, you want to rent a room from the Sambro Housing Agency. Write an email telling them when you need the room, the type of room you would prefer, and the reason for your request.

2. During your upcoming vacation, you will be visiting a new city. As a result, you want some information about the area. Write an email to the tourist bureau asking them to provide some suggestions for where to go, what to see, and how to get there.

3. You work in a manufacturing unit where your coworkers have been harassing you. Write an email to the HR department describing who harassed you and their relationship to you , when each instance occurred – date, time, and location, and the evidence you have of the situation

4. You and your friends are planning to go to Dubai on vacation. You have to arrange hotel accommodation and need details about hotel rooms and other facilities before making a final decision. Write an email to the hotel managers requesting details about the hotel, describing the type of room, and identifying any special needs (i.e. smoking or non-smoking room) 

5. You are experiencing financial problems and want to ask your landlord if you can pay your rent late.
Write an email to your landlord explaining why you are writing to him, why you cannot pay the rent, and when you will pay the rent

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Application

  1. You’re looking for a part-time job in an office. In about 150 to 200 words, write a letter to the office manager applying for the position by introducing yourself, explaining your experience and special skills, and telling him or her when you think you could start
  2. You’re looking for a full-time job at an IT company / museum / art gallery. In about 150 to 200 words, write a letter to the HR Manager applying for the position by introducing yourself, explaining your experience and special skills, and telling him or her when you think you could start

IELTS Academic Writing Topics for Task 1

Bar Charts

The chart below gives information about the UK’s ageing population in 1985 and makes predictions for 2035.

Prepare a two-minute presentation that summarizes the information, reports the main features, and makes any comparisons.

Hint: As you prepare your response to this prompt, think about the largest and smallest gaps for each country. In other words, look for patterns.

Airport Visitors 1995-2000

The chart below shows the number of travelers using three major airports in New York City between 1995 and 2000.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Hint: Keep in mind that you’re looking for trends. In other words, think about the most consistent and the most fluctuating number of visitors.

Factors Affecting Work Performance

The bar chart below shows the results of a survey at a major company. The survey looked at two groups of workers. The first group was 18-30, and the second group was 45-60. Furthermore, the chart shows the factors that affect their work performance.

Prepare a report that summarizes the information, compares any important data, and identifies the main features.

Hint: When you think about this question, consider the things that have the greatest influence, those that have very little influence, and those that have the same level of influence on the two groups.

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Graphs

IELTS Academic 2019

The graph shows the band scores achieved by IELTS test-takers in 2019.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: For the first trend, you could talk about the higher requirements for employment, and for the second trend, you could talk about the lower requirements for education.

CAEL Overall Scores 2018 – 2020

The graph shows the overall scores achieved by CAEL test-takers in the years between 2018 and 2020.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: With this prompt, I’d be inclined to talk about the area that spans band 60 and 70. In other words, for the first trend, I’d talk about the greatest downward trend in 2018. For the second trend, I’d focus on the greatest rise during the years that followed. Because these lines follow a very similar pattern, you don’t need a lot of detail before 60 and after 70. However, it is important to mention the similarity.

Burnaby Public Library

The graph shows the number of books read by men and women at Burnaby Public Library from 2011 to 2014.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant

Hint: With this prompt, my first trend would be the changing positions of men and women during the four-year period. Once I had done that, I would talk about the change in direction. That would be my second trend.

International Student Enrolment

The line graph gives information about the number of Iranian, Greek and Turkish students who enrolled at Sheffield University between 2005 and 2009.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: As your visual literacy improves, it becomes easier to see the basic trends like the ones in this graph. Here, I’d talk about the concurrent rise of enrolments in Turkey and Iran, and then, I’d talk about Greece’s plunge. With all of these questions, it’s important to say what the trend is and then use the details in the graph to support your statement. Don’t talk about things that you can’t see in the picture.

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Tables


Cultural Activities

The Table below shows the results of a survey that asked 6800 Scottish adults (aged 16 years and over) whether they had taken part in different cultural activities in the past 12 months.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: The trends in this table would be firstly, the 2 most popular for all groups, and secondly, the 2 least popular for all groups. In addition, I would develop each trend by talking about the group’s constituents.

Olympic Medals

The table below shows the number of medals won by the top ten countries in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: For these trends, talk about the top 4 totals for the first trend, and the bottom four for the second trend. Then, in order to develop these ideas, talk about the things that make up those totals.

Underground Railways

The take below gives information about the underground railway systems in six cities.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: For this one, my first trend would be about the two most popular for passengers, and my second trend would be about the two least popular.

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Pie Charts

Someland Expenditures

The pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by local authorities in Someland in 1980, 1990 and 2000.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: For these trends, I would focus on the biggest and smallest changes at the beginning and end of the twenty year period and then fill in whether they went up or down in 1990.

Retail Sector Sales

The two pie charts below show the online shopping sales for retail sectors in Canada in 2005 and 2010.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: Here, focus on the biggest and smallest changes as your two trends.

Canadian Graduates

The graphs below show the post-school qualifications held by Canadians in the age groups 25 to 35 and 45 to 55.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: For these trends, I would focus on what was most interesting to the two age groups and then, for the second trend, what was least interesting.

US Expenses

The charts below show US spending patterns between 1966 and 1996.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: For these trends, I would focus on the biggest change, and then, I would focus on the smallest change.

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Processes

Work Experience Requirements

The flowchart shows the process involved in completing the work experience requirement for university students.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: With the process question, you don’t need to worry about trends. With this type of question, what’s important is that you follow the arrows.

Plastic Production

The flowchart illustrates the production of coloured plastic paper clips in a small factory.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: With the process question, you don’t need to worry about trends. With this type of question, it’s all about being able to follow the arrows and describe the process very clearly.

Peanut Butter Production

The diagram shows the process that a peanut goes through to become peanut butter.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features.

Hint: Focus on the arrows if you get this types of question. You don’t need to worry about trends here, but you do need describe every part of the process clearly.

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Maps

Canterbury

The map below is of the town of Canterbury. A new school (S) is planned for the area. The map shows two possible sites for the school.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: If you get a map question, you don’t need to talk about trends. With this type of question, you need to describe the advantages and disadvantages of both locations. in addition to that, you must mention each component in the map. In other words, you should mention the two populations and the main roads. You should also mention the countryside housing and the town centre, and don’t forget the direction and the university, because they are important too.


Felixstone Developments

The map shows the development of Felixstone between 1967 and 2001.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Hint: In a map question like this, you need to describe the biggest changes that took place during the period between 1967 and 2001. Once you’ve done that, you should describe the things that didn’t change.


More Visual Literacy Practice

For more visual literacy practice in preparation for CAEL speaking task 3 and IELTS Academic writing task 1, try the IELTS Academic Writing task 1 questions on these websites. At this point, your goal is to develop you visual literacy, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re preparing for CAEL or IELTS.

IELTS test online Has lots of practice questions

English exam – Offers a variety a practice questions.

IELTS Buddy – has a nice selection too

IELTS Writing Topics for Task 2

Art

  1. In today’s world of advanced science and technology, many still greatly value artists such as musicians, painters and writers. What can the arts tell us about life that science cannot?
  2. Many countries spend a lot of money on art. Some people think investment in art is necessary, but others say the money is better spent on improving health and education. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Education

  1. Traditionally, schools teach three important subjects – reading, writing and math, but there is some interest in adding computer skills to that list. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  2. As part of today’s education process, students work for a company for a short period of time without pay. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

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