Planning your Task 1 report

In this section, let's practise planning a Task 1 report.

To plan your report, you need to:

• Step 1: identify the purpose of the graph or table
• Step 2: identify the significant information
• Step 3: identify the overall message of the graph or table
• Step 4: organise the information.

Let's practise this using the example Task 1 question below. First, read the Task 1 question

Example question

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The graphs below give information on wheat exports from Australia to different countries in 2005. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words. Amount of wheat exported from Australia to different countries in 2005 Countries Packaging Tonnes exported in Bags Tonnes exported in Containers China 625 2001 India 4361 5002 New Zealand 82 44032 Total 5068 51035

Note that we recommend you follow these steps in this order, as it is the same order you should use when planning your report in the IELTS Writing Test.

Click on the tabs to learn more about planning your report. Alternatively you can click on Next to go to Identifying the main purpose of a graph or table.

  

Identify the main purpose of the graph and table

To identify the main purpose of a graph or table, you will need to look at the title and how the data is represented (e.g., as a trend / comparing and contrasting).

To practise this, look at the Task 1 question again and answer the questions that follow.

Don't forget to click on the tabs at the top.

  

Identify significant information

To identify the significant information in a graph or table, you will need to look at the data to identify the highest and lowest amounts that are given.

To practise this, look at the Task 1 question again and answer the questions that follow.

Don't forget to click on the tabs at the top.

  

Identify the overall message of the graph or table

To identify the overall message of a graph or table, you will need to consider both the purpose and the significant information to determine the main idea.

To practise this, look at both the table and the pie chart in the Task 1 question again, and answer the following question.

Activity

Amount of wheat exported from Australia to different countries in 2005

	Packaging
Countries	Tonnes exported in Bags	Tonnes exported in Containers
China	625	2001
India	4361	5002
New Zealand	82	44032
Total	5068	51035

What is the overall message?

	A In 2005, China imported the least wheat and New Zealand imported the most wheat.
	B In 2005, the main type of wheat exported from Australia was General Purpose Wheat and Organic Wheat was the least exported.
	C In 2005, New Zealand imported the most wheat and the main type of wheat exported from Australia was General Purpose Wheat.

Don't forget to click on the tabs at the top.

  

Organise information

Now that you have identified the purpose, significant information, and overall message of the table and pie chart in the example Task 1 question, you can organise this information. In other words, you can plan your answer.

Activity

Use the text box below to plan your answer for this question. When you have finished, you can compare your plan with our sample plan.

Amount of wheat exported from Australia to different countries in 2005

	Packaging
Countries	Tonnes exported in Bags	Tonnes exported in Containers
China	625	2001
India	4361	5002
New Zealand	82	44032
Total	5068	51035

Sample Plan

Introduction
table - quantity of wheat from Aust. to 3 countries, 2005
pie chart - 4 wheat types sold by Aust

Body - (table)most wheat to New Zealand / mainly in containers
India / wheat imported in bags & containers (similar amounts)
China imported least amount of wheat / mostly in containers
Body - (pie chart)
more exports in Aust Hard Wheat / General Purpose than Durum & Organic

Conclusion
Overall - New Zealand imported most wheat / General Purpose Wheat main export

Now that you have practised planning, let's move on to practise writing a Task 1 report.