IELTS Academic Writing: clear overviews and developed arguments

Know the task

Academic Writing has two tasks within 60 minutes. Task 1 requires at least 150 words describing visual information; Task 2 requires at least 250 words responding to an issue or argument. Task 2 carries more weight. British Council recommends about 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 for Task 2; these are planning allocations within the section.

A practical approach

1. Task 1: identify the visual’s topic, units, and period. Select the major trends, comparisons, or stages for an overview. Group supporting details logically instead of describing every figure in order.
2. Task 2: underline all parts of the question. Decide your position and give each main paragraph one developed purpose: claim, explanation, and relevant support.
3. Check task coverage and paragraph logic before polishing vocabulary. Assessment considers task achievement/response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.

Worked example: original Fasiho practice

Original Task 1 data: Bus commuters increased from 30% in 2015 to 45% in 2025, while car commuters fell from 50% to 35%.

Possible overview: “Bus travel became more common over the period, while car use declined, and buses overtook cars by 2025.” This identifies the main changes without inventing their causes. The figures can then support the comparison in a detail paragraph.

Task 2 prompt: Should universities require community service?

Development example: “A flexible service requirement could connect classroom learning with local needs. For instance, engineering students might help a community group assess accessible entrances. Universities would need varied placements so students with work or care responsibilities could participate.” This develops a position and acknowledges a practical condition. These excerpts are not full-length answers or band-rated models.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing the Task 1 overview or speculating about causes not shown in the data.
• Answering only one part of a multi-part Task 2 question.
• Listing several reasons without explaining any.
• Using forced synonyms that change the meaning or writing so much that checking becomes impossible.

Your next practice session

Write a Task 1 overview from fresh data, then check whether it captures the most important features. Plan a Task 2 response with one line per paragraph before drafting. Complete both tasks together under the 60-minute timer regularly. Review the same four criteria each time and select one change for your next fresh attempt.

Questions & answers

Official sources

• British Council: IELTS Writing test format

Checked October 19, 2026. Official links support the task-format descriptions. Strategies and fictional examples are original Fasiho teaching material, not official sample questions or assessed model answers. Practice estimates do not guarantee an official result.

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Keep reading

• IELTS Academic Reading: evidence, headings, and Not Given
• IELTS Listening: avoid distractors and catch the final answer
• IELTS Speaking: natural answers across Parts 1, 2, and 3