Writing · Unit 1: Know the test
W05: Academic Task 1: all 7 chart types
Target band 5.5 to 6
Academic Task 1 gives you a visual and asks you to describe it. There are seven common types. Each one needs a slightly different approach and different language. If you know all seven, nothing on test day will surprise you. This lesson gives you a quick map of each type. Lessons W21 to W27 teach each one in depth.
Why this matters
Many students practise only line graphs and bar charts, because they're the most common. Then a map or a process diagram appears in the real test, and they panic. Twenty minutes isn't enough time to figure out a new type from scratch.
The seven types
| Type | What it shows | Key language | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line graph | Change over time | rose, fell, peaked, fluctuated | W21 |
| Bar chart | Comparison between groups, sometimes over time | higher than, the largest, twice as many | W22 |
| Pie chart | Parts of a whole, usually percentages | accounted for, a quarter, the majority | W23 |
| Table | Many numbers in rows and columns | the highest figure, compared with | W24 |
| Mixed charts | Two visuals together, like a line graph and a pie chart | while, in contrast, meanwhile | W25 |
| Process diagram | Steps in how something is made or works | first, next, is heated, is then sent | W26 |
| Map | Changes to a place, or two possible locations | was replaced by, was built, to the north of | W27 |
What every type has in common
Whatever the visual, a good Task 1 report has four parts:
- Introduction: paraphrase what the visual shows, in one sentence.
- Overview: two or three main features, with no detailed numbers.
- Body paragraph 1: key details, with figures.
- Body paragraph 2: more key details, with figures.
The overview is the most important part. Without it, Task 1 is usually limited to band 5 for Task Achievement (W09).
Static or dynamic?
One quick question helps you choose your language:
- Is there a time period? Then it's dynamic. Use trend language: increased, dropped, remained stable.
- Is it one moment in time? Then it's static. Use comparison language: was higher than, the largest share, twice as much as.
A bar chart or pie chart can be either. Always check for dates.
Example introductions
- Line graph: "The line graph shows the number of international students in three countries between 2010 and 2025."
- Process: "The diagram illustrates the stages involved in recycling plastic bottles."
- Map: "The maps show how a town centre changed between 2000 and the present day."
Try it yourself
Which language fits?
- A pie chart showing household spending in 2024.
- A line graph showing rice prices from 2015 to 2025.
- A diagram showing how tea is produced.
Show the answers
1) Static comparison language. 2) Dynamic trend language. 3) Process language, often passive.
Honest note
Some tests combine types in unusual ways. Don't panic. Ask the same two questions: what are the main features, and is there change over time?
Your task today
Find one example of each of the seven types in your Cambridge books. Write just the introduction sentence for each.