Six Task 1 visuals and how to open each one
Admin1 November 2026 3 min read
Academic Task 1 shows you one visual (or sometimes two) and asks you to summarise it in at least 150 words, in about 20 minutes. There are six common types. The skill is the same for all: select the key features and report them accurately.
What to look for in each type
| Visual | Describe | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Line graph | Trends over time: up, down, peaks, lows | rose steadily, peaked at, levelled off |
| Bar chart | Comparisons between categories, or change across years | the highest, twice as many as, considerably lower |
| Pie chart | Proportions of a whole. Often two pies to compare | accounted for, the largest share, made up |
| Table | Select the key figures. Do not list every number | the highest, the lowest, in contrast |
| Map | Changes between two dates: what was added, removed or moved | was replaced by, to the north of, was converted into |
| Process | The stages in order, with how they link | First, Next, After that, Finally, is then passed to |
One pattern for the opening
- Introduction: paraphrase the title in one sentence. Mention what is measured, where and when.
- Overview: the biggest trend or the most important difference.
- Detail paragraphs: group related data and compare with figures.
Example (line graph) The graph shows how many tourists visited three cities between 2000 and 2020. Overall, visits to City A rose steadily, whereas City C declined, and City B stayed the most stable.
Typical mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Giving reasons or opinions | Describe only what the visual shows |
| Listing every number | Choose the key ones and group the rest |
| No overview | Write it before the body paragraphs |
| Wrong tense | Past for past years, will or is expected to for the future |
| Mixing units | Always write %, millions, tonnes and so on |
A 20-minute routine
- 3 minutes: read the visual and the units
- 2 minutes: choose the overview and group the details
- 12 minutes: write
- 3 minutes: check figures, tenses and spelling
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Test the strategy under time
A timed mock shows whether the plan holds up.