IELTS Writing Task 1IELTS Writing Task 1 — Grafik, Tablo, Harita, Süreç

Academic Task 1'de görebileceğin görsel tipleri

• Line graph — zaman içinde değişen bir ya da birkaç eğri
• Bar chart — kategoriler arası karşılaştırma (dikey/yatay çubuklar)
• Pie chart — bir bütünün yüzde parçaları (bazen 2 pasta karşılaştırması)
• Table — satır/sütun halinde ham sayılar
• Map — genellikle iki dönem: bir yerin geçmiş vs gelecek/şimdiki hâli
• Process / diagram — bir üretim ya da doğal döngü aşamaları
• Karma (mixed) soru — ör. bir line graph + bir tablo aynı sayfada

General Training Task 1 farkı (kısa not)

General Training modülünde Task 1 grafik değil, bir mektuptur (şikâyet, rica, davet, özür vb.). Ton (resmî / yarı resmî / gayrı resmî) ve mektup yapısı (hitap, gövde, kapanış) esastır. Bu sayfa Academic görsel görevine odaklanır; GT mektup türü ayrı bir konudur ve ilgili konu anlatımı sayfasında ele alınır. Aşağıdaki veri dili ve band mantığı GT için geçerli değildir — orada dil ölçütü nezaket ve amaç netliğidir.

The visual types you may see in Academic Task 1

• Line graph — one or more curves changing over time
• Bar chart — comparison across categories (vertical/horizontal bars)
• Pie chart — percentage slices of a whole (sometimes a comparison of 2 pies)
• Table — raw figures in rows and columns
• Map — usually two periods: a place in the past vs the future/present
• Process / diagram — the stages of a manufacturing or natural cycle
• Mixed question — e.g. a line graph + a table on the same page

The General Training Task 1 difference (a short note)

In the General Training module, Task 1 is not a graph but a letter (complaint, request, invitation, apology, etc.). Tone (formal / semi-formal / informal) and letter structure (salutation, body, closing) are essential. This page focuses on the Academic visual task; the GT letter type is a separate topic and is covered on its own guide page. The data language and band logic below do not apply to GT — there the language criteria are politeness and clarity of purpose.

Giriş (paraphrase) için kalıp

Parafraz araç kutusu: shows → illustrates / depicts / presents / gives information about; the number of → the figure for / the quantity of; percentage → proportion / share; from 1918 to 2011 → over a 93-year period / between 1918 and 2011.

Overview için kalıp (sayı YOK)

Overview başlatıcıları: Overall, / In general, / It is clear that / A striking feature is that… Overview'da kesin rakam vermezsin; onları detay paragraflarına saklarsın.

A template for the introduction (paraphrase)

Paraphrase toolkit: shows → illustrates / depicts / presents / gives information about; the number of → the figure for / the quantity of; percentage → proportion / share; from 1918 to 2011 → over a 93-year period / between 1918 and 2011.

A template for the overview (NO numbers)

Overview openers: Overall, / In general, / It is clear that / A striking feature is that… In the overview you do not give exact figures; you save them for the detail paragraphs.

4.1 · Line graph (çizgi grafik)

Nasıl okunur: Yatay eksen genellikle zamandır (yıl, ay). Dikey eksen ölçülen değerdir. Her çizgi bir seridir. Önce genel yönü (yükseliyor/düşüyor/dalgalı) yakala, sonra başlangıç–bitiş, en yüksek/düşük nokta ve çizgilerin kesiştiği yılları not al.

Hangi dil: Zaman geçmişse past simple (rose, fell). Değişim fiilleri + derece zarfları: rose sharply, fell steadily, fluctuated. Zaman ifadeleri: in 1990, over the next decade, by 2011.

4.2 · Bar chart (çubuk grafik)

Nasıl okunur: Zaman olmayabilir — çubuklar kategoriler (ülkeler, yaş grupları) arası karşılaştırmadır. En uzun ve en kısa çubuğu, gruplaşmaları (benzer yükseklikte olanlar) ve varsa dönem farkını (aynı kategoride 2 çubuk) yakala.

Hangi dil: Karşılaştırma ağır basar: the highest / the lowest / the second most, more than twice as many, roughly equal to, far fewer than. Zaman yoksa present simple kullanılabilir.

4.3 · Pie chart (pasta grafik)

Nasıl okunur: Her dilim bir bütünün yüzdesidir; toplam %100'dür. En büyük ve en küçük dilimi bul. Sık formatta iki pasta verilir (ör. 2000 vs 2020) — o zaman görev, dilimlerin dönemler arası değişimini karşılaştırmaktır.

Hangi dil: Oran/parça dili: accounts for, makes up, represents, constitutes; the largest share, a quarter, just over half, a fifth. İki pasta varsa değişim fiilleri de girer.

4.4 · Table (tablo)

Nasıl okunur: Tablo en çok ham veri içeren ve en kolay "her sayıyı listeleme" tuzağına düşülen tiptir. Her hücreyi yazmazsın. Satır/sütun bazında en yüksek, en düşük ve dikkat çekici örüntüyü seç. Toplam/ortalama satırı varsa oradan başla.

Hangi dil: Seçme ve karşılaştırma dili: the highest figure was recorded for…, in terms of…, when it comes to…, by comparison. Yaklaşıklık dili sık gerekir (yuvarlanmamış sayılar için).

4.5 · Map (harita — değişim)

Nasıl okunur: Genellikle bir yerin iki (bazen üç) dönemi verilir: 1990 vs bugün, ya da "şimdi" vs "planlanan". Görev, neyin eklendiğini, kaldırıldığını, taşındığını, dönüştürüldüğünü, genişletildiğini raporlamaktır. Yön (kuzey/güney/doğu/batı) ve konum ifadeleri esastır.

Hangi dil: Ağırlıkla edilgen (passive) ve konum dili: was built / was demolished / was replaced by / was converted into / was relocated to the north; in the north-eastern corner, adjacent to, on the site of the former…. Zaman: geçmiş→şimdi ise past + present; şimdi→gelecek ise will be / is going to be.

4.6 · Process / diagram (süreç şeması)

Nasıl okunur: Sayı yoktur; aşamalar (stages) vardır. İki tür: man-made (üretim: tuğla, kâğıt, çikolata) ve natural cycle (yaşam döngüsü, su döngüsü). Önce kaç aşama olduğunu ve başlangıç–bitiş noktasını say; döngüyse "sürekli tekrar eden" olduğunu belirt.

Hangi dil: Sıra bağlaçları + edilgen present simple: First, / Next, / After that, / Subsequently, / Finally; the beans are harvested, the mixture is heated, once it has cooled…. Overview burada "kaç aşama / doğal mı yapay mı / girdi-çıktı" der.

4.1 · Line graph

How to read it: The horizontal axis is usually time (year, month). The vertical axis is the measured value. Each line is a series. First catch the general direction (rising/falling/fluctuating), then note the start–end, the highest/lowest point and the years where the lines cross.

Which language: If time is in the past, use the past simple (rose, fell). Change verbs + degree adverbs: rose sharply, fell steadily, fluctuated. Time expressions: in 1990, over the next decade, by 2011.

4.2 · Bar chart

How to read it: There may not be time — the bars compare categories (countries, age groups). Catch the longest and shortest bar, the groupings (those of similar height) and, if present, the difference between periods (two bars in the same category).

Which language: Comparison dominates: the highest / the lowest / the second most, more than twice as many, roughly equal to, far fewer than. If there is no time, the present simple can be used.

4.3 · Pie chart

How to read it: Each slice is a percentage of a whole; the total is 100%. Find the largest and smallest slice. A common format gives two pies (e.g. 2000 vs 2020) — in that case the task is to compare how the slices change between periods.

Which language: Proportion/part language: accounts for, makes up, represents, constitutes; the largest share, a quarter, just over half, a fifth. If there are two pies, change verbs come in as well.

4.4 · Table

How to read it: The table holds the most raw data and is the type where it is easiest to fall into the "listing every number" trap. You do not write out every cell. Select the highest, the lowest and the striking pattern by row/column. If there is a total/average row, start there.

Which language: Selecting and comparing language: the highest figure was recorded for…, in terms of…, when it comes to…, by comparison. Approximation language is often needed (for un-rounded numbers).

4.5 · Map (change)

How to read it: Usually two (sometimes three) periods of a place are given: 1990 vs today, or "now" vs "planned". The task is to report what was added, removed, relocated, converted or expanded. Direction (north/south/east/west) and location expressions are essential.

Which language: Mostly the passive and location language: was built / was demolished / was replaced by / was converted into / was relocated to the north; in the north-eastern corner, adjacent to, on the site of the former…. Tense: if past→present, use past + present; if present→future, use will be / is going to be.

4.6 · Process / diagram

How to read it: There are no numbers; there are stages. Two kinds: man-made (manufacturing: brick, paper, chocolate) and natural cycle (life cycle, water cycle). First count how many stages there are and identify the start–end point; if it is a cycle, state that it "repeats continuously".

Which language: Sequencing connectors + the passive present simple: First, / Next, / After that, / Subsequently, / Finally; the beans are harvested, the mixture is heated, once it has cooled…. Here the overview states "how many stages / natural or man-made / input-output".

5.1 · Trend kelimeleri — fiil ve isim formları

İki kalıp, ezberle: (a) [özne] + fiil + zarf → Sales rose sharply. (b) there was + a/an + sıfat + isim + in → There was a sharp rise in sales. Bu iki kalıbı değiştirerek kullanmak GRA çeşitliliği verir.

5.2 · Derece — ne kadar hızlı, ne kadar büyük?

Sık hata: zarf yerine sıfat, sıfat yerine zarf. ✗ It rose sharp. → ✓ It rose sharply. / ✗ a rise sharply → ✓ a sharp rise.

5.3 · Karşılaştırma dili

• compared with / in comparison with the previous year — önceki yıla kıyasla
• ownership rose, whereas / while renting fell — zıtlık (iki seri karşıtsa)
• twice as many men as women; three times higher than… — kat karşılaştırması
• the figure for A was far higher than / slightly lower than that for B
• In contrast, / By contrast, / On the other hand, — cümle başı zıtlık
• A and B followed a similar pattern / moved in line with each other — benzerlik

5.4 · Yaklaşıklık — sayıyı tam vermek zorunda değilsin

Grafikten okunan değer nadiren tam sayıdır; yaklaşıklık dili hem daha doğal hem daha güvenlidir.

• approximately / around / roughly / about 40%
• just under 50% (49-ish), just over 50% (51-ish)
• well over 60%, nearly / almost 70%
• a little more than a quarter, close to half, the vast majority

5.1 · Trend words — verb and noun forms

Two patterns, memorise them: (a) [subject] + verb + adverb → Sales rose sharply. (b) there was + a/an + adjective + noun + in → There was a sharp rise in sales. Alternating these two patterns gives GRA variety.

5.2 · Degree — how fast, how big?

Common error: adjective instead of adverb, adverb instead of adjective. ✗ It rose sharp. → ✓ It rose sharply. / ✗ a rise sharply → ✓ a sharp rise.

5.3 · Comparison language

• compared with / in comparison with the previous year — compared with the previous year
• ownership rose, whereas / while renting fell — contrast (when two series are opposed)
• twice as many men as women; three times higher than… — multiple comparison
• the figure for A was far higher than / slightly lower than that for B
• In contrast, / By contrast, / On the other hand, — sentence-initial contrast
• A and B followed a similar pattern / moved in line with each other — similarity

5.4 · Approximation — you don't have to give the exact number

The value read off a graph is rarely a whole number; approximation language is both more natural and safer.

• approximately / around / roughly / about 40%
• just under 50% (49-ish), just over 50% (51-ish)
• well over 60%, nearly / almost 70%
• a little more than a quarter, close to half, the vast majority

Band merdiveninde ne değişiyor?

• 5→6: zaman hataları azalır, bir overview belirir.
• 6→7: overview netleşir, veri seçilir (her sayı değil), collocation girer, cümle tekrarı azalır.
• 7→8: karmaşık cümleler hatasız akar, yaklaşıklık ve karşılaştırma doğal, kelime tam yerinde.
• 8→9: her cümle amaçlı; hiç zorlama yok; en isabetli veriler seçilmiş, dil zahmetsiz.

What changes on the band ladder?

• 5→6: tense errors decrease, an overview appears.
• 6→7: the overview becomes clear, data is selected (not every number), collocation enters, sentence repetition decreases.
• 7→8: complex sentences flow without error, approximation and comparison feel natural, vocabulary is precisely placed.
• 8→9: every sentence is purposeful; nothing is forced; the most apt data is selected and the language is effortless.

Model cevap

Bu cevap neden yüksek band?

• TA: Ayrı, sayısız bir overview var; her rakam değil seçilmiş anahtar noktalar (başlangıç, kesişim, zirve, son dönem tersine dönüş).
• CC: Net 4 paragraf; whereas, after which, then, however ile pürüzsüz akış.
• LR: tenure, dominant arrangement, correspondingly, overtaking, the vast majority — çeşitli ve doğru.
• GRA: Geçmiş zaman tutarlı; -ing cümleleri (overtaking…, falling…), yaklaşıklık ve karşılaştırma hatasız.

Model answer

Why is this answer a high band?

• TA: There is a separate, number-free overview; not every figure but selected key points (start, crossover, peak, final-period reversal).
• CC: A clear 4 paragraphs; smooth flow with whereas, after which, then, however.
• LR: tenure, dominant arrangement, correspondingly, overtaking, the vast majority — varied and accurate.
• GRA: Consistent past tense; -ing clauses (overtaking…, falling…), approximation and comparison error-free.

8.1 · Bar chart — örnek soru

Model cevap (~170 kelime)

Neden yüksek band: sayısız overview + sıralama; ülkeleri tek tek değil gruplayarak (iki zengin ekonomi vs Meksika) anlatıyor; accounted for, made up, absorbed, devoted ile fiil tekrarını kırıyor; nearly twice, more than double oran dili.

8.2 · Pie chart — örnek soru

Model cevap (~165 kelime)

Neden yüksek band: iki pastayı ayrı ayrı değil değişim üzerinden okuyor; accounted for, supplied, made up, provided çeşitliliği; more than doubled, held steady, almost unchanged ile hem değişeni hem sabit kalanı işaretliyor.

8.3 · Table — örnek soru

Model cevap (~175 kelime)

Neden yüksek band: 12 sayının tamamını değil, örüntüyü anlatıyor; almost doubling, more than halving oran dili; artan / azalan / zirve-yapan üç davranışı ayırıp gruplandırıyor.

8.4 · Process diagram — örnek soru

Model cevap (~165 kelime)

Neden yüksek band: baştan sona edilgen present simple (are picked, are extracted, are roasted, are sealed); sıra bağlaçları (then, after which, before, subsequently, in the final stages); overview "linear / man-made / kaç aşama" der — süreç şemasının doğru overview'ı budur.

8.5 · Map — örnek soru

Model cevap (~170 kelime)

Neden yüksek band: ağırlıkla edilgen geçmiş (were cleared, was widened, was converted, was retained); yön ve konum dili (to the north of the river, in the east, beside it, at the town centre); değişeni ve değişmeyeni (kilise) birlikte raporluyor.

8.6 · Mixed chart — örnek soru

Model cevap (~170 kelime)

Neden yüksek band: iki farklı ölçeği (bar = kişi, çizgi = para) karıştırmadan ayrı birimlerle anlatıyor; ters yönlü iki eğilimi overview'da bağlıyor; collapsed, rebounded, climbed steadily ile hareket çeşitliliği.

8.1 · Bar chart — sample question

Model answer (~170 words)

Why a high band: a number-free overview + ranking; it describes the countries not one by one but by grouping them (the two wealthy economies vs Mexico); it breaks verb repetition with accounted for, made up, absorbed, devoted; ratio language with nearly twice, more than double.

8.2 · Pie chart — sample question

Model answer (~165 words)

Why a high band: it reads the two pies not separately but through change; variety with accounted for, supplied, made up, provided; with more than doubled, held steady, almost unchanged it marks both what changed and what stayed constant.

8.3 · Table — sample question

Model answer (~175 words)

Why a high band: it describes not all 12 numbers but the pattern; ratio language with almost doubling, more than halving; it separates and groups the three behaviours — rising / falling / peaking.

8.4 · Process diagram — sample question

Model answer (~165 words)

Why a high band: the passive present simple from start to finish (are picked, are extracted, are roasted, are sealed); sequencing connectors (then, after which, before, subsequently, in the final stages); the overview says "linear / man-made / how many stages" — that is the correct overview for a process diagram.

8.5 · Map — sample question

Model answer (~170 words)

Why a high band: mostly the past passive (were cleared, was widened, was converted, was retained); direction and location language (to the north of the river, in the east, beside it, at the town centre); it reports both what changed and what did not (the church).

8.6 · Mixed chart — sample question

Model answer (~170 words)

Why a high band: it describes the two different scales (bar = people, line = money) in separate units without mixing them; it links the two opposing trends in the overview; movement variety with collapsed, rebounded, climbed steadily.

Son kontrol listesi (yazmadan çıkma)

• ☐ Ayrı bir Overview paragrafı var mı? (Overall ile mi başlıyor?)
• ☐ Soruyu parafraz ettim mi, kopyalamadım mı?
• ☐ Her sayıyı değil, ana özellikleri mi seçtim?
• ☐ En az bir açık karşılaştırma yaptım mı?
• ☐ Zaman tutarlı mı? (harita/süreçte edilgen)
• ☐ 150+ kelime mi? (160–190 ideal)

Final checklist (do not leave without checking)

• ☐ Is there a separate Overview paragraph? (Does it start with Overall?)
• ☐ Did I paraphrase the question, not copy it?
• ☐ Did I select the main features rather than every number?
• ☐ Did I make at least one clear comparison?
• ☐ Is the tense consistent? (passive in maps/processes)
• ☐ Is it 150+ words? (160–190 is ideal)