IELTS Academic Task 1 Report Templates (2026)
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 report templates for line, bar, pie, table, map, process and mixed charts, with intro paraphrase, overview and body detail frames plus high-band chart language.
What a Task 1 template should and should not do
Academic Task 1 templates are flexible report frames: paraphrase the task, give a clear overview, then select key details. Examiners accept this shape when the overview is accurate and the numbers or features come from the figure in front of you.
Do not memorise openings such as The given diagram is very interesting or Overall there are many changes. Those lines fit every chart and none. Always replace [brackets] with the chart type, units, categories, years and standout figures from that prompt.
- 1Read axes and unitsNote what is measured, the time range and category names before you write.
- 2Draft the overview firstWrite two main features without numbers if possible, then add selective figures in the bodies.
- 3Group, do not listCompare related categories or periods instead of describing every cell.
Line chart templates
Line charts usually show change over time. Focus on overall direction, peaks, troughs and the biggest contrast between lines.
| Part | Paste-ready skeleton |
|---|---|
| Intro | The line graph illustrates [what is measured] for [categories] between [start year] and [end year]. |
| Overview | Overall, [category A] [rose / fell / fluctuated], while [category B] [main pattern]. The most striking feature was [peak, crossover or gap]. |
| Body 1 | In [start year], [category A] stood at [figure]. It then [rose steadily / fell sharply] to [figure] in [year], before [later movement]. |
| Body 2 | By contrast, [category B] began at [figure] and [pattern]. Between [year] and [year], the gap between [A] and [B] [widened / narrowed] to about [figure]. |
Bar, pie and table templates
Bars compare categories, pies show shares of a whole, and tables pack dense numbers. The frames below keep the same report logic while changing the comparison language.
| Chart | Intro + overview frame | Body detail frame |
|---|---|---|
| Bar | The bar chart compares [metric] across [categories / years]. Overall, [highest category] was the largest, whereas [lowest] was the smallest. [Optional second feature: gap / ranking change]. | Body 1: Focus on the top [two / three] categories with figures. Body 2: Group mid and low categories, noting any year-to-year shift of about [figure]. |
| Pie | The pie chart(s) show the proportions of [whole] in [year / place]. Overall, [largest segment] accounted for the biggest share, while [smallest] made up only a small percentage. [If two pies: note the main shift]. | Body 1: Report the largest one or two segments with [percentages]. Body 2: Combine smaller segments and, for two pies, describe which shares rose or fell. |
| Table | The table presents data on [metric] for [categories] in [year(s)]. Overall, [standout high] and [standout low] were the most noticeable figures, and [row / column] showed the widest range. | Body 1: Select the highest and lowest cells and one clear comparison. Body 2: Summarise a second group of related rows or columns without copying every number. |
Avoid
Weak overview
Overall, the chart shows many different numbers for different categories.
- •No selection
- •No ranking
- •Could fit any table
Better
Strong overview
Overall, Category X was consistently highest, while Category Y remained lowest throughout the period.
- •Clear extremes
- •Pattern named
- •Guides body grouping
Map (before / after) templates
Map tasks usually show a place at two times. Describe location with compass language and group changes by zone rather than listing every tiny feature.
| Part | Paste-ready skeleton |
|---|---|
| Intro | The maps illustrate how [place] changed between [year 1] and [year 2]. |
| Overview | Overall, [place] became more [residential / commercial / industrial / tourist-oriented], with the most noticeable developments in the [north / south / centre]. |
| Body 1 | In [year 1], [feature] was located in the [position]. To the [direction] of this there was [feature]. The [area] was mainly [land use]. |
| Body 2 | By [year 2], [old feature] had been replaced by [new feature]. A [road / bridge / car park] had been added in the [position], while [unchanged feature] remained in the [position]. |
- Use had been / was converted for completed changes between maps
- Mention what stayed the same once, not in every sentence
- Avoid inventing reasons why planners made changes
Process and mixed-chart templates
Process diagrams need sequence language and passive forms. Mixed charts need one overview that covers both visuals, then one body per chart or one body per theme shared by both.
| Type | Intro + overview | Body frames |
|---|---|---|
| Process | The diagram shows how [product / natural cycle] is produced / occurs. Overall, the process consists of [number] main stages, beginning with [first stage] and ending with [final stage]. | Body 1: From [start] to [mid stage], [materials] are [actions]. Body 2: Next, [later stages] until [end product / result]. |
| Mixed charts | The [chart types] provide information about [topic A] and [topic B] in [year / place]. Overall, [main pattern from chart 1], while [main pattern from chart 2]. | Body 1: Detail chart 1 with selected figures. Body 2: Detail chart 2 and, if useful, one cross-link such as the category that is high in both. |
High-band chart language by function
Pick language that matches the visual job: trends for lines, comparisons for bars, proportions for pies, location for maps, sequence for processes.
| Function | High-band phrases |
|---|---|
| Trend | rose steadily; fell sharply; fluctuated; remained stable; peaked at; bottomed out at |
| Comparison | was considerably higher than; ranked second; almost equal to; far exceeded; the least |
| Proportion | accounted for; made up; comprised; a minority share; the largest segment |
| Location | to the north of; in the south-west corner; adjacent to; on the opposite side of; in the centre |
| Sequence | initially; subsequently; following this; in the next stage; finally |
- Overview tips - Write band-friendly main features
- Chart vocabulary - Expand precise reporting language
- Line charts - Select peaks, troughs and contrasts
- Maps strategy - Group before/after changes by zone
Practise next
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an overview for every Task 1?+
Yes. A clear overview of main features is essential for a strong Task Achievement score on Academic Task 1.
Should the overview include numbers?+
It can, but it does not have to. Many strong overviews name patterns first and save precise figures for the body paragraphs.
Can I use the same intro for every chart?+
Only the frame. Change the chart type word, topic, categories and time period every time so the paraphrase is not memorised filler.
How many figures should I include?+
Enough to support comparisons, not every data point. Select highs, lows, big changes and useful mid-points.
Is personal opinion allowed?+
No. Academic Task 1 is a factual report. Do not say whether a trend is good or bad unless the prompt asks for that, which it almost never does.