Task Achievement in IELTS Writing Task 1: How to Score Band 7+ with Key Features and Comparisons

Task Achievement in IELTS Writing Task 1

In this part, you are provided with a chart and asked to write a report based on it. Task Achievement measures how well your analysis is actually related to the task—how well you are interpreting and analyzing the given visual data. When the examiner reads your report, they evaluate whether all the pertinent information has been covered or not. Have a look at the required criteria for the band you desire, taken from IELTS British Council.

✅ What Is Required?

Task Achievement is not very difficult to score a high band in. Just ensure that you properly answer the given prompt.

As you know, the prompt in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 is:

“Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.”

So, you need to:

• Identify key features

• Give sufficient information about these key features (with data)

• Make comparisons where appropriate

If you do all this, you will ace this part of the task.

Also note that, it is extremely important to include an overview paragraph in IELTS Writing Task 1 if you want to score band 7 or higher.

🔎 Sample Prompt & Reports

Have a look at the given pie charts and the two sample reports. One report attempts to describe each main trend and make relevant comparisons perfectly, while the other does not.

Prompt: The three pie charts below show the annual expenditure to run a specific school in the UK in the years 1981, 1991, and 2001. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Report 1

"The pie charts illustrate the annual expenditure to run a specific school in the UK in the years 1981, 1991, and 2001.
Overall, staff salaries accounted for the largest proportion of the budget throughout the period, with teacher salaries consistently making up 40% or more of the total expenditure.

Teacher salaries saw a significant rise in the first decade, jumping from 40% to 50%, before declining to 45% by 2001. Salaries of non-teaching staff remained the second largest expense in 1981 and 1991, despite a 6% drop. However, by 2001, spending on furniture and equipment had overtaken it, increasing from 15% to 23%.

The remaining two categories required comparatively less funding. Resources, such as books, accounted for 15% of the school budget in 1981, rising by 5% in the next decade, only to experience a substantial drop, reaching 9% by the end of the period. Insurance remained the category with the lowest expenditure, despite steady growth."

Report 2

"The pie charts show how much money was spent to run a school in the UK in 1981, 1991, and 2001.

Teacher salaries were 40% in 1981, then increased to 50% in 1991 before dropping to 45% in 2001. Other staff salaries were also high but decreased over time. Furniture and equipment spending went up and became higher than non-teaching staff salaries in 2001.

Books and other resources were 15% of the budget at first, then increased and later dropped. Insurance was always the smallest category, but it increased over time."

🏆 Which Report Performed Better in Task Achievement?

Obviously, the first one—you guessed that right?

The second report has several critical pitfalls:

• ❌ No overview paragraph, which is the most important part of any report. Missing it alone can prevent the report from scoring band 6 or higher.

• ❌ No clear comparisons. The prompt specifically asks for comparisons.

• ❌ Lack of data. There are no specific figures to support the claims, making it vague.

✅ Why Report 1 Is Better in Task Achievement

• Figures provided

• Relevant comparisons

• Clear overview

You can easily draw the chart by reading the first report, which means it effectively captures the main features.

If you feel confident in your ability to write a high-scoring report, submit your essay here for a free assessment.