Everything you need to know about IELTS Writing Task 1: Body Paragraph simply and effectively!

The structure of the IELTS Writing Task 1 will consist of three main parts: Introduction - Overview - Body. In our previous articles, PREP has shared about writing the Introduction and Overview in Writing Task 1. Therefore, in this article, PREP will share about IELTS Writing Task 1: Body Paragraph simply and effectively. Refer to the article below to master the writing of Task 1 Body, Preppies!

I. Structure of an IELTS Writing Task 1

When carrying out an IELTS Writing Task 1, we should have at least 3 and a maximum of 4 main paragraphs as follows:

• Introduction: Introduce the chart or data table being described.
• Overview: Provide an overall view of the author's article, highlighting the key and most important information from the figure before delving into the details.
• Body 1: Present important information.
• Body 2: Present important information.

By adhering to this structured approach, writers can effectively navigate the complexities of the visual data presented in IELTS Writing Task 1 and convey their analysis in a clear, coherent manner. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, from providing an introductory context to offering an overview of key trends and presenting a detailed analysis, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the progression of ideas and insights presented in the response.

II. Simple and Effective Approach to IELTS Writing Task 1: Body Paragraph

1. Writing 2 paragraphs for IELTS Writing Task 1: Body Paragraph

An effective Task 1 writing always requires 2 body paragraphs because:

• Having only one body paragraph can overload the information and make it difficult for the reader to follow, indicating that the writer cannot process and organize information logically and effectively.
• Having more than two body paragraphs can lead to the error of separating trivial information.
• Recommended writing time: 10 minutes.

2. 4 steps to writing the IELTS Writing Task 1: Body Paragraph

The process of writing the IELTS Writing Task 1: Body Paragraph is usually carried out according to the steps below. Refer to them now to effectively prepare for your IELTS at home:

Step 1: Find a logical way to divide the two main body paragraphs.

• Divide by time: For charts that tend to change over time, choose a year to divide the chart into two halves. Body 1 will describe from the first year to the dividing point, and Body 2 will describe the remaining period from the dividing point to the last year.
• Divide by similarity: Group similar variables (lines, types of columns, groups of columns, horizontal or vertical rows...) with similar trends or magnitudes into one paragraph.

Step 2: Select the most important information to include in the essay:

• Overall trends for the entire chart and the most prominent smaller trends in each variable.
• Key points: Starting point, highest point, lowest point, intersection point, ending point...
• Comparisons between variables: Higher, lower for each stage or specific points.

Step 3: Sequence the information within each paragraph: MOST SIGNIFICANT → LEAST SIGNIFICANT

• Always describe the information in order of importance, with larger quantities, magnitudes, significant importance, and high influence described first.

Step 4: Proofread - 2 minutes

Refer to additional articles for more information:

• Master how to write IELTS Writing Task 1: Introduction
• A comprehensive guide on how to write an IELTS Writing Task 1: Overview

3. Examples of specific approaches to writing IELTS Writing Task 1: Body Paragraph

Task: “The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007”

How to write Task 1 Body:

Starting at slightly under 11 metric tonnes in 1967, the average carbon dioxide emissions per UK citizen continuously declined to reach around 9 metric tonnes in 2007 and always maintained the top position. Meanwhile, Sweden’s figure, initially ranked just behind the UK’s, saw an initial jump from 8 to 10 metric tonnes in the first 10 years, but this number fell rapidly afterward by half in the last year of the assessment period, placing it third in terms of CO2 emissions per person.

Turning to Italy and Portugal, both countries experienced a similar rising rate over the time frame. Italy’s emissions doubled from 4 to almost 8 metric tonnes, surpassing that of Sweden in 1987 to rank second after the United Kingdom. Similarly, Portugal’s number increased fivefold from 1 billion to 5 billion to tie with Sweden’s for third place.

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