IELTS Academic Writing, two tasks · IELTS Writing Académique, deux tâches
Thirty-eight minutes on the chart leaves twenty-two for the essay
- In an original rehearsal, Sam spends 38 minutes on Academic Task 1. The shared 60-minute clock now leaves 22 minutes for Task 2. Finishing a polished chart report does not remove the essay requirement.
- Both tasks must be completed. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to Writing. Plan time for its argument and review as well as the visual report; the clock will not award overtime for a beautiful adjective.
How many minutes is the Writing test? · Combien de minutes dure l'épreuve de Writing ?
60 minutes for two tasks. · 60 minutes pour deux tâches.
Academic Task 1 reports the supplied information
- Task 1 asks for at least 150 words describing visual information: a graph, table, chart or diagram. Select the main features and support them with relevant details and comparisons, where appropriate.
- If cycling’s share rises from 20% to 35%, report that change accurately. An imagined new cycle lane is not evidence in the chart. General Training Task 1 instead asks for a letter; the dedicated letter lesson covers that task.
Complete: Task 1 needs at least ___ words. · Compléter : Task 1 nécessite au moins ___ mots.
Task 1 is at least 150 words, about 20 minutes. · Task 1 fait au moins 150 mots, environ 20 minutes.
Which task changes between Academic and General Training Writing?
General Training Task 1 is a letter. Academic Task 1 reports visual information; both versions still include Task 2.
Task 2 answers the particular question
- Task 2 asks for at least 250 words responding to a view, argument or problem. “Should campus residence be compulsory?” requires a judgement about the requirement, rather than only a list of benefits of accommodation.
- Identify every requested part, decide a clear position where required, and develop relevant reasons or examples. A brief plan can help; no fixed planning duration or paragraph count guarantees a score.
Which task is worth more of the Writing score? · Quelle tâche pèse le plus dans la note de Writing ?
Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1. The approximately 20/40-minute allocation is official guidance for the shared hour, not two separately enforced timers.
Practise a usable budget rather than a new exam rule
- The official guidance is about 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. One rehearsal allocation is 2 minutes selecting features + 16 drafting + 2 checking; then 3 planning + 32 drafting + 5 checking. These are practice choices, not separately enforced timers.
- If Sam has already used 38 minutes, he still needs to answer Task 2 with the remaining 22. Afterward, diagnose why Task 1 expanded and practise earlier selection. Giving up the essay would leave a whole required task unanswered.
In Task 1 you should copy the numbers from the chart into a list. · Dans Task 1, vous devez copier les nombres du graphique dans une liste.
You summarise the main features and make comparisons. A list of every number is not a summary. · Vous résumez les caractéristiques principales et faites des comparaisons. Une liste de tous les nombres n'est pas un résumé.
The Task 1 rehearsal budget is 2 minutes selecting, 16 drafting and 2 checking. How many minutes is that?
2 + 16 + 2 = 20 minutes, one practice allocation inside the shared hour.
Length and checking serve the response
- Meet each minimum with relevant connected prose, not a list of keywords or bullet points. Extra length is not a substitute for task coverage; it can consume time needed for the other answer or for checking.
- During review, check missing task parts, inaccurate values and unclear sentences. A computer word count or a practised handwriting estimate can help monitor length. Choose a method that does not repeatedly interrupt your writing; there is no official rule to count exactly once.
Match each task to its job. · Associez chaque tâche à sa fonction.
Task 1 reports visual information and Task 2 develops an argument. Protect time for both; spending longer on Task 1 does not prove an essay will be impossible, but it reduces available time.
Transfer the budget to a complete rehearsal
- Try a full hour using two original prompts. Record the task-change time, then review whether both answers met their purposes and minimum lengths. Untimed work can target a particular weakness before another timed attempt.
- Format checked on 2 October 2026: official IELTS Academic Writing guide. These budget examples and short checks are original practice, not official items or band predictions.
- Complete both tasks with relevant connected prose; use a rehearsal budget to protect drafting and review time.
Match the distinctions in this worked case.
Use the approximately 20/40-minute split as a planning guide. Practise a complete hour, record when you moved tasks and check whether both answers addressed their demands.
What is the main risk of 38 minutes on Task 1 in an hour rehearsal?
In a fictional rehearsal, a learner spends 38 minutes on Task 1 and leaves 22 for Task 2. The longer description has consumed the time needed to develop the essay. Use the approximately 20/40-minute split as a planning guide. Practise a complete hour, record when you moved tasks and check whether both answers addressed their demands.
A changed rehearsal spends 27 minutes on Task 1. How many of the shared 60 minutes remain?
60 − 27 = 33. Task 2 remains required; the task-change time is a diagnostic for the next rehearsal.