It is essential to use the right tense in IELTS writing task 1 for both Academic and General Training, and getting a Band 9 score on Task 1 writing usually only requires 2 or 3 different verb tenses.
This page will explain which tenses to use in the IELTS Exam.
First of all, I will explain the tenses that should be used for the academic test, followed by grammar tips for letter writing for general training students.
Here are three simple rules that you should follow in order to get good bands in the GRA criterion.
Rule No. 1: Use simple present tense to explain the visual data in the introduction paragraph about the process.
For instance: “The given map/diagram/process depicts (shows)…” or “The tabular data (data in the table) displays…” or “The linear chart (Line Chart) shows…” or “First, the truck is loaded with…”.
Comment: Whenever you write directly about a graphic including a table, chart, graph, map, etc. you should use the simple present tense. You can use the same tense for process diagrams.
Band 9 Example: “The line graph compares three companies in terms of their waste output between the years 2000 and 2015.”
Rule No. 2: Use simple past tense to address the data from the past.
For instance: “The number of consumers increased…” or “The ancient pyramid was built…”
Comment: Whenever you are writing about the past, use past simple (e.g. “was”, “increased”). It’s no problem if you use present perfect (e.g. “have increased) or past perfect (e.g. “had increased”) if it’s correct, but most of the time it’s unnecessary.
Rule No. 3: Use passive voice often to write about processes, predictions, and sometimes when explaining the maps.
- “After that, the electrical current is sent to…” (Rule 3)
- “The number of people that own cars is predicted to increase…” (Rules 1 and 3)
- “Several houses were built in the central area…” (Rules 2 and 3)
Comment: Passives are very useful for processes, predictions, and maps because we often don’t know or don’t care “who” or “what” is the cause of the action. For example, we don’t care what sends the electrical currents, who makes the prediction, or who built the houses.
Now, let’s talk about how to use these rules, particularly in Writing Task 1. You may be given a map, a diagram, a bar chart, a line graph, a table, or a pie chart in the academic test. The IELTS examiner will mark you on the following (each worth 25% of task 1)
- Task Achievement: information, overview, the accuracy of data
- Coherence & Cohesion: Paragraphing, Linking Words
- Vocabulary: Collocations, Spelling, and Accuracy
- Grammar: Sentence structure, tenses, punctuation, grammar range, and accuracy
Thus, it is very clear that you should know which tenses to use in the report as it falls under the marking criterion of Grammar.
Dates and Tenses
On your IELTS graph, chart, map, diagram, or table, you might find dates. These will tell you what tense to use. See the list below:
If no dates are mentioned = present tense
In the diagram above, we don’t have dates, so the present tense must be used.
For example, “Cooking utilizes 5%, standby 5%, and lighting 11% with total utilization of 21% of the power while refrigerators need 12% electricity. All other appliances consume the rest 24% of the energy share.”
If the dates are in the Past = Past Tense
If the dates are in the past, you would have to use Past Tense.
For example, “Among the full-time employed people, men had about 45 hours of leisure time on an average per week compared to the almost 38 hours of leisure time for women.”
If the dates are in the future, you would have to use the future tense.
For example, “The life expectancy is predicted to rise in every country, which will be 23% and 25 percent in 1940 in Sweden and USA, respectively.”
If the dates are in the Past and Future = Past Tense and Future Forms
If the dates span both Past and Future = both Past Tense and Future Forms should be used appropriately and accurately.
The diagram consists of dates from the past and the future; thus, we have to use both tenses.
For example, “France sold 40 million magazines in the past and is expected to sell approximately 35 million magazines in the past.”
Using Passive Voice in IELTS Writing Task 1
There are students who seem to think they will get a high score if they use passive voice. This is not true. You can only use passive voice when it is appropriate and correct to do so. Most writing task 1 will not give you this opportunity. However, if you get a diagram, they are usually a combination of passive and active voices.
Mixing both Past Tense and Future Forms
Here is a sample sentence using both tenses:
“In 2010, the number of sales stood at 2 million and is forecast to rise to a peak of 10 million by 2050.”
Comment: You can see past simple “stood” and future forms of prediction “is forecast to”
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 Tenses
The examiner will mark you using the same criteria as the AC test, but with one difference in Task Achievement. The IELTS examiner will mark you on the following (each worth 25% of task 1). See below:
- Task Achievement: Purpose, tone, and expanding points
- Coherence & Cohesion: Paragraphing, Linking Words
- Vocabulary: Collocations, Spelling, and Accuracy
- Grammar: Sentence structure, tenses, punctuation, grammar range, and accuracy
For students taking the General Training test. You will use a range of tenses in your letter depending on the aims and purpose. Below are some sample sentences:
- I am writing to…. (present continuous)
- I visited your store… (past simple)
- …the poor service I have received (present perfect)
- I hope the problem will be resolved… (future form and future passive)
- I had hoped that … (past perfect)
Action Step
Take a look at your Task 1 writing and pay careful attention to the tenses that you’re using. Compare your tenses with the rules above. Is there anything that you can fix?
When working on Writing Task 1, the correct use of tenses can be quite confusing. To help you out with this matter, we have comprehensive IELTS online coaching classes. Click here to enroll yourself now.
Best of luck with your exams!
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