descriptive essay ielts

• IELTS: Writing Part 1 – How to Write a Descriptive Report

• Posted on 13/04/2018
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: IELTS Exam , Learn English , Writing

Are you taking an IELTS exam soon? Feeling nervous about the writing paper? Read this article for some top tips and useful language to help you with Part 1 of the writing paper.

Exam Requirements

Both the Academic and General English writing papers require you to write two texts in 60 minutes .

In the Academic Paper, you base your answer to Part 1 on an infographic , such as a chart or table, and use language to summarise and report on key information like the similarities and differences in data.

You should write at least 150 words in this part. While there’s no word limit, try to complete Part 1 in 20 minutes .

Part 2 requires you to write at least 250 words , so you’ll need to allow a little extra time for this.

Three tips to get a great mark in Part 1

1. read the question carefully.

Underline the key points and look at what the question is asking you to do:

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant .

To get a great score, you need to do all these things, so remember to read the introduction to the infographic as well and make sure you understand what the data shows.

Before you start writing, think about the main point for each of your paragraphs. Look at the outline below with some useful phrases and linkers because a well-structured text, which uses a range of language, will impress the examiner .

3. Use a variety of language

To get top marks, you need to show a range of grammar and vocabulary which is appropriate for the task. Look at the table later in the article to see some examples of language you usually find in reports and practise using it when you’re writing from now on.

Structuring your answer

In the first paragraph, you should briefly explain what is happening in the infographic. You can get this information from the introduction to the task, but remember to paraphrase what it says:

In the second paragraph, identify the main trend in the infographic and any similarities in the data:

In the third paragraph, explain the differences:

Finally, give a clear conclusion:

Useful language

You need to use a variety of words and phrases to analyse the data. A lot of this language is quite specific to talking about numbers, so might be new for you. Look for any words you don’t know in your dictionary.

Remember to use appropriate adjectives or adverbs to describe differences, using synonyms of big and small . Keep a list of useful chunks of language so you use the correct collocations , e.g. you can say a sharp increase but not a sharp majority .

Describing a process

You may also be asked to write a report describing a process in this part of the test. You are given a picture and some key points which you then need to write into a report.

The structure for this text is different because it has fewer paragraphs and you don’t need to include a conclusion. You still describe the main idea of the infographic in the first paragraph, again paraphrasing the information given:

Then, in the next paragraph, use linkers to order the process and explain it in more detail:

To see more sample questions and answers, go to IELTS Online Practice . The site has lots of answers for Part 1 (Academic and General) and Part 2, and they’ve been marked by an IELTS teacher so you can see the score they would receive.

A few final reminders

Look at the dates for the data in the infographic – is it only talking about the past? About current trends? Or providing predictions for the future? This will affect the tense you use in your report.

• Use a variety of active and passive structures in your report.
• Remember, it’s a formal text so don’t use contractions .
• Leave yourself enough time to check your work at the end.

Not sure if IELTS is the right exam for you? Read this article about the benefits of taking an IELTS exam.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Infographic (n): information presented in a visual way, e.g. a chart or table.

Summarise (v): to give a short explanation of the main points.

Outline (n): plan, structure.

Briefly (adv): quickly, in a few words.

Paraphrase (v): to explain an idea in your own words.

Trend (n): tendency, what is generally happening.

Chunk of language (exp): a series of words.

Collocation (n): words which go together, e.g. the vast majority, a tiny percentage.

Contraction (n): linking two words with an apostrophe, e.g. it’s, don’t, they’d.

adv = adverb

exp = expression

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• By: oxfordadmin
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IELTS Sample Essays

Here you will find IELTS Sample Essays for a variety of common topics that appear in the writing exam.

The model answers all have tips and strategies for how you may approach the question and comments on the sample answer.

You can also view sample essays with band scores on this page. 

Looking at IELTS essay topics with answers is a great way to help you to prepare for the test. 

These IELTS sample essays have been categorised in a way that makes it easy for you to see how certain essay question types require you to provide certain responses to ensure the question is fully answered. 

Specifically these are:

• Agree / Disagree
• Discuss Two Opinions
• Problems and Solutions
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Other Types

Agree / Disagree Type Questions

In these types of question you are given one opinion and you then have to state the extent to which you agree or disagree with that opinion:

• Advertising
• Alternative Medicine
• Spending on the Arts
• Human Cloning
• Social Interaction & the Internet
• Airline Tax
• Free University Education
• Scientific Research
• Banning Smoking
• Employing Older People
• Vegetarianism
• Paying Taxes  
• Examinations or Formal Assessment 
• Multinational Organisations and Culture
• Internet vs Newspapers
• Technology Development  
• Dying of Languages
• Animal Extinction
• Truth in Relationships
• Role of Schools
• Return of Historical Artefacts

Discuss Two Opinions Type Questions

In this essay question type you are given two opinions, and you have to discuss both of these and then give your own view:

• University Education
• Reducing Crime
• Animal Rights
• Child Development
• Diet & Health
• Donating Money to Charity
• Closing Zoos   
• Becoming Independent  
• Formal and Informal Education  
• Influence of Scientists and Politicians
• Sources for Stories
• Searching for Extraterrestrial Life

Cause Type Questions

There are a variety of 'cause type' essay questions. In these you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to whether it is a positive or negative development:

Causes & Effects:

• Child Obesity
• Skin Whitening Creams
• Family Size
• Having Children Later in Life
• Time Away from Family

Causes and Solutions:

• Youth Crime
• Global Warming
• Paying Attention in Class
• International Travel & Prejudice 
• Museums & Historical Places
• Disappearance of Traditions
• Communication Between Generations

Causes, Pros & Cons:

• Family Closeness
• Living Alone
• Rural to Urban Migration

Problems & Solutions Type Questions

In these type of questions, instead of discussing the causes of a problem, you need to discuss the problems related to a particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be to solve these problems:

• Overpopulation
• Competing for Jobs  
• Professionals Immigrating

Advantage & Disadvantages Type Questions

In these type of questions you are asked to discuss the positive and negative sides of a particular topic. You will usually be asked this in the context of giving an opinion ( e.g. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Is it a positive or negative development? ): 

• Traffic Problems
• Food Additives
• Computer Games
• Age Discrimination at Work  
• Children using Tablets and Computers  
• Cell Phones, Internet, & Communication  
• Working from Home 
• Eating Locally grown  Produce  
• Oil and Gas Essay  
• Peer Pressure on Young People
• Online Fraud
• Decreasing House Sizes

'Hybrid' Types of Essay Question

There are sometimes questions that don't fit easily into a particular category as above. I've called these 'hybrid', as they are of mixed character, are composed of different elements from other types of essay, or are perhaps just worded differently. 

• Protecting Old Buildings
• Animal Testing
• Fear of Crime
• Communication Technology
• Influence of Children's Friends  

Sample Essays with Band Scores

You can also view some sample essays that have been written by candidates practising for the test and have band scores and comments by an experienced ex-IELTS Examiner based on the IELTS marking criteria. 

• IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 7 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 6 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 5 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 4 Essay Samples

Student Sample Essays

For more IELTS essay topics with answers you can also view essays that have been written by students. Some have feedback from other students or IELTS teachers:

• Student Model Essays  (with comments by other students)
• Student Model Essays (with comments by IELTS buddy)

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