IELTS Writing Task 1 practice questions
Exam-style charts for Academic Task 1 and letters for General Training, written in the real test format. Each has a paragraph plan, the overview or tone to aim for, useful language and a band 9 model answer. Write yours on the same page and get an estimated band score in about a minute.
All questions are original practice items in the real exam format; chart data is for practice only.
Academic: charts, graphs and tables (24)
Line graphs
- Internet Access Rates in Urban Areas, Rural Areas, and the National Average, 2000–2024Technology · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
- Annual Rail Passenger Journeys in Three European Cities, 1995–2020Transport · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
- Electricity Generated from Renewable Sources in Four Regions, 2005–2025Energy · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
- Graduate Employment Rates by Subject in a National University System, 2010–2022Education · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
- Average Annual PM2.5 Concentrations in Three Asian Cities, 2008–2023Environment · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
- Average Household Expenditure on Four Categories in a Developed Country, 2000–2020Consumer spending · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
- Average House Prices in Four Cities, 2000–2020Consumer Spending · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
- CO₂ Emissions per Capita in Four Countries, 1990–2020Environment · Line graph · Band 9 model answer
Bar charts
- Average Monthly Visitors to Four National Museums and Cultural Venues in Country X (2015 and 2022)Tourism · Bar chart · Band 9 model answer
- Household Water Consumption by Purpose in Five Countries (2020)Environment · Bar chart · Band 9 model answer
- Percentage of Students Enrolled in Six Selected University Subjects in One Country (2010 and 2020)Education · Bar chart · Band 9 model answer
- Carbon Emissions by Mode of Transport in Two Cities (2019)Transport · Bar chart · Band 9 model answer
- Food Waste Generated by Sector in Three Regions (2021)Environment · Bar chart · Band 9 model answer
- Gym Membership Rates Among Age Groups in One Country (2012, 2017 and 2022)Health · Bar chart · Band 9 model answer
Pie charts
- Methods of Household Waste Disposal in Country X, 2023Environment · Pie chart · Band 9 model answer
- Tourist Expenditure by Category in New Zealand, 2015 and 2022Tourism · Pie chart · Band 9 model answer
- Sources of National Electricity Generation in Germany, 2020Energy · Pie chart · Band 9 model answer
- Main Causes of Deforestation in South America, 2019Environment · Pie chart · Band 9 model answer
- Sources of Funding for Higher Education Institutions in the UK, 2010 and 2020Education · Pie chart · Band 9 model answer
Tables
- International Student Enrolment by Subject Area in Two Universities, 2015 and 2022Education · Table · Band 9 model answer
- Hospital Bed Occupancy Rates (%) by Department Across Four CountriesHealth · Table · Band 9 model answer
- Average Annual Household Energy Costs by Dwelling Type and Region (2023)Energy · Table · Band 9 model answer
- Average Annual Employee Training Hours by Industry and Company Size (2022)Employment · Table · Band 9 model answer
- Childhood Obesity Rates (%) by Age Group in Four Countries, 2021Health · Table · Band 9 model answer
General Training: letters (24)
Formal letters
- Complain About a Faulty ApplianceYou recently purchased a household appliance from a large electronics retailer, but it stopped working correctly within a week of use. Write a letter to the store's customer service department. In your letter
- Request a Grant for a Community EventYour local community group wants to organise a public event and needs financial support. Write a letter to a regional council grants committee. In your letter
- Request Medical Records TransferYou are moving to a different city and need your medical records transferred to a new doctor's practice. Write a letter to the administration office of your current medical centre. In your letter
- Complain About Construction NoiseA construction project near your home has been causing severe noise and disruption during unreasonable hours. Write a letter to the local council's planning and development office. In your letter
- Join a Public Library as a ProfessionalYou have recently moved to a new town and would like to become a member of the main public library, which offers special research resources for professionals. Write a letter to the head librarian. In your letter
- Dispute an Incorrect Utility BillYou have received a utility bill that contains charges you believe are incorrect and significantly higher than usual. Write a letter to the billing department of the utility company. In your letter
- Report Workplace Safety HazardsYou are concerned about a number of safety hazards at your workplace that have not been addressed by your employer. Write a letter to the national workplace health and safety authority. In your letter
- Apply for a ScholarshipYou are a university student who wishes to apply for a scholarship offered by a professional industry association to support students in your field of study. Write a letter to the scholarship selection committee. In your letter
Semi-formal letters
- Request a Temporary Parking Space SwapYou and your neighbour both have assigned parking spaces in your residential building. You would like to swap spaces temporarily due to a personal reason.
- Request Fence Repair from LandlordA section of the fence around the garden of your rented home has been damaged by a recent storm. You want your landlord to arrange repairs.
- Request a Change in Working HoursYou have recently had a change in your personal circumstances and would like to adjust your working hours at your current job.
- Request Deadline Extension from TeacherYou are a student and you are finding it difficult to complete an important assignment by the given deadline due to unexpected personal difficulties.
- Neighbour's Overgrown GardenYour neighbour's garden has become very overgrown and is beginning to affect your own property by blocking light and allowing pests to enter.
- Request Permission to Sublet ApartmentYou need to sublet your rented apartment to a friend for two months while you are away for work. You need to get permission from your landlord first.
- Request a Reference from Your ManagerYou are applying for a new job and need a reference from your current manager, who has supervised your work for several years.
- Request Detailed Feedback from a TeacherYou recently completed a course taught by one of your teachers and would like to receive detailed feedback on your overall performance to help you improve.
Informal letters
- Invite a Friend to Your WeddingYou are getting married soon and would like your childhood friend, who lives in another city, to attend your wedding.
- Recommend a Place to a CousinYou recently visited a place that you enjoyed very much and think your cousin would love it too.
- Apologise for Missing a Friend's BirthdayYou forgot your close friend's birthday last month and did not get in touch on the day. You want to apologise.
- New Job in a New CityYou have recently started a new job in a different city and want to share the news with an old friend.
- Ask a Friend to Look After Your PetYou are going on a trip for two weeks and need someone to look after your pet while you are away.
- Share Baby News with a RelativeYou have recently had a baby and want to share the happy news with a close relative who lives abroad.
- Recommend a Hobby Club to a FriendYou recently joined a local hobby club and are enjoying it very much. You think your friend would benefit from joining too.
- Ask a Friend to Help You Move HomeYou are moving to a new home next weekend and would like your friend to help you on that day.