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Writing Task 1: How to get a 7+ in Task Achievement

Task achievement (TA) is one of four criteria that IELTS writing tasks are judged by.

In this article, I’ll cover the most three common mistakes that prevent IELTS candidates from getting higher task achievement scores in writing task one.

If you can avoid these mistakes, it’s easily possible to get a 7 or better for TA.

writing-task-1-descriptors
How your task 1 writing score is calculated

Mistake #1: Incorrect Analysis

If you want to get a low task achievement score, the fastest way is to make a mistake when reporting on the graph, table, or diagram.

Take the following graph as an example.

uk-telephone-calls

Source: Cambridge IELTS 9

Q: Which one of the following sentences is inaccurate?

a. Mobile usage grew over the period shown.

b. There was a rise in the use of national and international fixed lines.

c. Local fixed line usage fluctuated over the period shown.

If you look carefully, you’ll notice that “c” is the inaccurate sentence.

The definition of to fluctuate is “to rise and fall irregularly in number or amount” (definition link). While local fixed line usage did rise and fall, it was not irregular.

Because of this alone, the task achievement score could drop to a 6 as “details may be irrelevant, inappropriate, or inaccurate.”

Remember: Be careful when analyzing. Even one mistake can hurt your score.

Mistake #2: Reporting Every Detail

You’ve probably heard of this before. You need to “select and report the main features.” Not every detail on the graph.

Don’t do this:

In 1999, 100 million people entered post-graduate programs. In 2000, this  number increased to 110 million. By 2001, this number had again increased to 150 million. Finally, in 2002, the number of people in post-graduate programs decreased slightly to 120 million.

You can see in the band descriptions that a task achievement score of 7 will “highlight the main features”, but that a score of 5 “recounts detail mechanically” and that there “may be a tendency to focus on detail.”

There’s no highlighting in this example. It’s just repeating the graph like a robot. This would probably get a 5 for TA, even though the other aspects of the writing are fine.

Remember: Choose the important data to highlight. Don’t report every detail.

ielts-writing-task-1-common-ta-mistakes

Mistake #3: Not Enough Comparisons

While it’s not explicitly written in the band descriptors, the Task 1 writing instructions do say “make comparisons where relevant”. Personally, I see this as part of highlighting the main information.

Every sentence you’re writing should have a purpose. Sometimes it will be to highlight new, important information. Other times it will be to add on extra information by making a comparison.

Make sure you’re linking this extra information to what you’ve already written about.

Let’s look at these examples:

Example 1 (BAD): 100 thousand men went to university in 2002. 200 thousand women went to university in 2002.

Example 2 (GOOD): A total of 200 thousand women went to university in 2002, surpassing the number of men attending in the same year by exactly 100 thousand.

Not only does example 2 have better grammar, vocabulary, and cohesiveness, but it also makes a relevant comparison. Writing like this will get you at least a band 7 score.

Remember: Make comparisons wherever you can.

What mistakes are you making?

If you’d like to have your own writing corrected to see what you’re doing wrong, check out our Writing Correction Service. We can show you exactly what you’re doing wrong and how to fix it.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. So, How can be written the above example: c. Local fixed line usage fluctuated over the period shown.

    If you look carefully, you’ll notice that “c” is the inaccurate sentence.

    Reply

    • Good question. The sentence itself is correct but “fluctuate” implies going up and down several times.

      You could write something like “Fixed lines increased steadily before reaching a peak in 1999, and declining back to its initial value.”

      Reply

      • If you don’t mind,shall i get your email id.So that i can send you some of my writings for corrections. I am desperately looking for someone enough to correct my answers. Thank you.

        Reply

      • Hi!Lee I’m interested to studying the ielts how can you help me.give me some advice how can I take ielts exam?
        I hope I will get the answer from you.
        Thanks so much

        Reply

  7. The number of women in nursing school increased to 150 in 2000 compared to number of men ( 100) the same year
    pls correct

    Reply

  8. Hi Lee,

    I followed the link from your Meetup IELTS group. I really like the idea of analysing and explaining the criteria separately. I wonder will you do a same lesson on Task 2? I really want to know whether it is possible to achieve a high band in TA and CC as my LR and GRA are not that good.

    Reply

  13. Hi, I desperately need a 7.5 in Writing Task 1 and 2. Can you help me? I really need feedback. I keep getting 6 all the time. I’m taking Academic.

    Reply

    • um to be honest, jumping from a 6 to a 7.5 in the writing is not easy to achieve. I guess it requires a lot of practice and an ielts professional to consult with. I got an 8.5 by hard practice and study 🙂

      Reply

  16. Dear Lee,

    I have a question

    Is “by exactly one hundred thousand” the difference between 200.000 (women) and 100.000(men) ( 200.000 – 100.000 = 100.000) ?

    Or it’s the number of men matriculated in 2002(100.000)

    Thank you

    Reply

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