Tip # 18: Writing task 1 (Academic Modlule) Have a structure & checklist

IELTS Writing Task 1 Checklist (Energy Sources Edition)
1. Introduction (Overview + Purpose)
State the obvious function
(e.g., "The line graph illustrates energy consumption trends from 1990-2020, while the pie chart shows 2020's energy mix.")
Extend with purpose
(e.g., "Together, they reveal persistent fossil fuel dependence despite renewable sector growth.")
General summary
(e.g., "Overall, coal dominated energy production, with consumption rising steadily across all sources.")
2. Body Paragraphs (Data Description)
Trend statement
(e.g., "Coal usage grew consistently from 55M tonnes in 1990 to 85M in 2020.")
Variety in structure

• Verb + adjective: "Natural gas rose steadily (40→62M)."
• Adjective + noun: "Wind/solar exhibited exponential growth (2→12M)."

Key figures & units
(e.g., "Nuclear energy peaked at 35M tonnes in 2010 before declining to 30M.")
Focus on dominance
(e.g., "Coal accounted for 35% of 2020 production, making it the primary source.")
Order logically
(e.g., "Fossil fuels comprised 60% of the total, followed by nuclear (15%) and renewables (25%).")
3. Conclusion (Summary + Implication)
Recall key trends
(e.g., "While fossil fuels maintained supremacy, renewables showed the fastest growth rate.")
Non-data implication
(e.g., "This may reflect policy incentives for cleaner energy adoption.")
Avoid repetition
(e.g., "The 2020 breakdown confirms coal’s lead despite renewable advances.")
Forward-looking statement
(e.g., "Suggests potential for renewables to gain market share if trends continue.")

Practice models
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The line graph shows world energy consumption from various energy sources from the decades from 1990 to 2020 while pie chart shows the percentage that each energy is consumed in 2020.

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

Write at least 150 words.

Line Graph (convert this to a line graph using excel)
 Data (Energy Consumption in Million Tonnes):
               Energy Source       1990        2000      2010        2020
                Coal                              55           65            78            85
                Natural Gas                40           48            55            62
                Nuclear                       20            28            35            30
                Hydro                            5              8             12             15

 
Pie Chart (2020):
Coal 35%
Natural Gas 25%
Nuclear 15%
Hydro 10%
Wind 8%
Solar 7%

 Model Answer

The pie chart shows the distribution of energy sources in 2020, while the line graph tracks consumption changes from 1990-2020 [Function]. Together, they reveal ongoing fossil fuel dependence despite renewable growth [Purpose]. Overall, coal dominated energy use, with consumption rising steadily across all sources [Summary].

Coal accounted for 35% of 2020 energy production, followed by natural gas (25%) [Dominance]. Nuclear power comprised 15%, while renewables (hydro 10%, wind 8%, solar 7%) remained marginal [Key figures]. This reflects persistent non-renewable reliance despite environmental concerns [Implication].

The line graph shows coal consumption grew sharply from 55 to 85 million tonnes [Trend + figures]. Natural gas rose steadily (40→62M), while nuclear peaked at 35M in 2015 before declining [Varied structure]. Renewables displayed gradual growth - hydro tripled (5→15M), and wind/solar increased sixfold (2→12M) [Sequencing].

In summary, fossil fuels maintained dominance despite renewable sector expansion [Non-repetitive conclusion]. The data suggests potential for faster green energy adoption to meet climate targets [Forward-looking].
 
Post tip Application Why This Works

1. Real IELTS Examples: All bracketed examples are pulled directly from the energy task model answer.
2. Consistency: Maintains your original checklist structure while specializing it for the topic.
3. Band 9 Features:
   • "Exponential growth" (academic vocabulary)
   • "Policy incentives" (insightful implication)
   • "Fastest growth rate" (comparative analysis)

Pro Tip: Use this checklist during practice to internalize the structure. In the exam, mentally tick off each box as you write.