IELTS Writing Task 1 Checker
Upload the chart and paste your Academic report, or paste your General Training letter, and this IELTS Writing Task 1 checker scores it on all four marking criteria in under a minute, with the problems costing you the most marks.
How the Task 1 checker scores your answer
Task 1 is marked on four criteria that count equally. Three are the same as in Task 2; the first one, Task Achievement, is about whether you did what this short task asks.
| Criterion | What the checker looks at |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement (Academic) | A clear overview of the main trends, differences or stages; the key features picked out and supported with figures; accurate data; no opinions or reasons that the chart doesn't show; at least 150 words. |
| Task Achievement (letter) | Every bullet point covered with useful detail, a purpose that is clear from the first lines, a tone that fits the reader, and a suitable opening and closing. |
| Coherence and Cohesion | A logical order, paragraphs that group related information, and linking words and references that fit rather than repeat. |
| Lexical Resource | Accurate words for trends and comparisons (rose steadily, peaked at, twice as many), varied vocabulary, spelling and word forms. |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A mix of simple and complex sentences, correct tenses for the time shown, comparatives, and how many sentences are error-free. |
What a strong Academic report does
- Introduce the visual in your own words. One sentence that says what is shown, where and when. Don't copy the task.
- Write an overview. Two sentences on the biggest trends or differences, with no numbers. Examiners look for it first, and without it Task Achievement usually stays at 5.
- Group the details. Two body paragraphs, each about one group of features, with the figures that prove your point. Compare where the data invites it.
- Report, don't explain. Leave out causes, predictions and opinions. Task 1 only describes what the visual shows.
- Match the tense to the time. Past years take the past tense; projections take "is expected to" or "will".
For a process diagram, describe every stage in order with sequencing words and the passive (the clay is dug up, then shaped). For maps, say what was added, removed or changed between the dates.
Writing a General Training letter
The letter task gives you a situation and three bullet points. Each bullet point needs its own paragraph with a detail or two, and the reader should know why you are writing from the first sentence.
| Reader | Opening and closing |
|---|---|
| Unknown person or company (formal) | Dear Sir or Madam, … Yours faithfully, |
| Named person you don't know well | Dear Mr Lee, … Yours sincerely, |
| Friend (informal) | Dear Anna, … Best wishes, |
Keep the tone the same from start to finish: a complaint to a manager stays polite and formal, and a letter to a friend can use contractions and everyday phrases.
Task 1 mistakes that cost the most marks
- No overview. A report that goes straight into numbers reads as a list, however accurate it is.
- Every number, no selection. Pick the highest, the lowest, the biggest changes and the exceptions.
- Wrong figures. Misreading the scale or the units (thousands, percentages) costs Task Achievement.
- Explaining the data. "Because people prefer cars" is your idea, not the chart's.
- Under 150 words. Short answers rarely cover the key features well enough for band 6.
- Missing a bullet point. In a letter, skipping one of the three points limits your band even when the English is good.
- The wrong tone. "Hi mate" to a landlord, or a stiff formal letter to a close friend.
What you get
Free
- Overall band and all four criterion bands
- Why each band was given
- The three problems costing you the most marks
- 1 check a day, or 3 a week with a free account
Full feedback
- Everything in Free
- Sentence-by-sentence corrections with reasons
- Your essay rewritten at band 8, keeping your ideas
- Vocabulary upgrades and paragraph-by-paragraph comments
- Up to 30 checks a day and your full history
Writing an essay too? The IELTS writing checker handles Task 2, and the band score calculator works out your overall band.
Questions
Do I need to upload the chart?
For Academic Task 1 it helps a lot. The checker reads the picture to see which key features and figures your report should cover, and whether your numbers are right. Without it, the checker can only judge your overview and organisation from the task question, and it tells you the score is less certain.
Does it work for maps, tables and process diagrams?
Yes. Upload any Task 1 visual: line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, maps that change over time and process diagrams. A clear screenshot works best; a photo of a printed page is fine if the labels are readable.
Is my picture stored?
No. The picture is shrunk in your browser, read once, and thrown away. We keep only the checker's text description of it with your result, so you can see what it read.
Can it check General Training letters?
Yes. Pick Task 1 letter and paste the task with its three bullet points. The checker looks at whether you cover every bullet point, make your purpose clear and keep the right tone for the reader.
How long should Task 1 be?
At least 150 words, written in about 20 minutes. The checker accepts 50 to 450 words and tells you if a short answer is costing you marks.
How does Task 1 count in my writing band?
Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 in the Writing band, so a weak Task 1 still matters but costs less than a weak essay. Use the IELTS writing checker for Task 2.
Is it free?
Yes: 1 check a day without signing up, or 3 a week with a free account, Task 1 and Task 2 together. Corrections and a band 8 rewrite come with a paid plan.