How to Write an IELTS Task 1 Body Paragraph

In the Overview paragraph, we provided a summary of the significant features that we found in the diagram, and also added an outline sentence. But we didn't describe anything there. We saved the description for the body paragraphs.

On this page, we are going to show how to write the body paragraphs for an IELTS Task 1 essay.

However, if you haven't already, we recommend you check how we construct the Overview paragraph. Then go through this page. It will be a more organised reading for you.

We suggest you write two body paragraphs for an IELTS Task 1 essay. That means, pick just two major features from the graph, state them in the overview paragraph, explain and compare them in the body paragraphs. Quite simple.

Hope you remember our body paragraph writing strategy that we discussed in detail on the page IELTS Task 1 Writing Structure Academic. However, in case you didn't go through that page, our strategy for writing IELTS Task 1 body paragraphs is given below:

3. Body Paragraph 1

Sentence 1: first major point

Sentence 2: second major point

Sentence 3: extension sentence 1 (compare/combine the major points stated above)

Sentence 4: extension sentence 2 (extension of the previous sentence, or adding an exceptional feature).

4. Body Paragraph 2

Sentence 1: exceptional feature

Sentence 2: extension of the exceptional feature

Sentence 3: final sentence (wrapping-up the whole essay, completely based on the discussion above, nothing new)

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Example

Let's go through the example question below, and see how we prepare the body paragraphs following the above-stated structure.

Source: Cambridge English IELTS Past Papers

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 1 is the 3rd paragraph of our IELTS Task 1 essay. We will use the first and the second sentences of this paragraph just for stating the major points. The 3rd and 4th sentences will be used for explaining and comparing the major features.

Body Paragraph 1 Structure

Sentence 1: first major point

Sentence 2: second major point

Sentence 3: extension sentence 1 (compare/combine the major points stated above)

Sentence 4: extension sentence 2 (extension of the previous sentence, or adding an exceptional feature).

Let's form the paragraph following the above-stated structure:

Sentence 1(First Major Point)

"With 24% of total volunteer participation, Educational organization is the largest contributor of volunteers in 2008, followed by Environmental and Art."

Sentence 2(Second Major Point)

"However in 2014, the highest 29% volunteers came from Environmental organisation."

Sentence 3(Extension Sentence 1)

"Educational organisation went through a moderate decline from 24% in 2008 to 17% in 2014, whereas Environmental organisation experienced an increase from 21% to 29% over the same period."

Sentence 4(Extension Sentence 2)

"Meanwhile, Health Care remained the lowest contributor in both the periods."

Complete Body Paragraph 1

"With 24% of total volunteer participation, Educational organization is the largest contributor of volunteers in 2008, followed by Environmental and Art. However in 2014, the highest 29% volunteers came from Environmental organisation. Educational organisation has gone through a moderate decline from 24% in 2008 to 17% in 2014, whereas Environmental organisation experienced an increase from 21% to 29% over the same period. Meanwhile, Health Care was the lowest contributor in both the periods."

Look, we have used the first and the second sentences just for stating the two major points, whereas the 3rd and 4th sentences have been used for comparison/relative significance. That is it. Pretty easy. We've just completed the Body Paragraph 1.

Body Paragraph 2

Body paragraph 2 is the final paragraph of our IELTS Task 1 essay. This is the easiest paragraph in the whole essay. Because here we're just stating other features in brief and then adding a final sentence to conclude the essay. Lets's apply our structure for the second body paragraph:

Body Paragraph 2 Structure

Sentence 1: exceptional feature

Sentence 2: extension of the exceptional feature

Sentence 3: final sentence (wrapping-up the whole essay, completely based on the discussion above, nothing new)

Let's form the paragraph following the above-stated structure:

Sentence 1(Exceptional Feature)

"On the other hand, only Sport's contribution increased significantly from 15% in 2008 to 25% in 2014, while all others went through a moderate rise or fall."

Sentence 2(Extension of the Exceptional Feature)

"Moreover, the rate of volunteer participation only from Health Care, Environmental and Sport increased, whereas all the other three declined over the same period. "

Sentence 3(Final Sentence)

"Finally, Educational and Environmental were the highest contributors in 2008 and 2014 respectively, whereas Health Care remained the least contributor in both the periods."

Complete Body Paragraph 2

"On the other hand, only Sport's contribution increased significantly from 15% in 2008 to 25% in 2014, while all others went through a moderate rise or fall. Moreover, the rate of volunteer participation only from Health Care, Environmental and Sport increased, whereas all the other three declined over the same period. Finally, Educational and Environmental organisations were the highest contributors in 2008 and 2014 respectively, whereas Health Care remained the least contributor in both the periods."

Take a look above, in the first sentence we've just stated the other features in brief. We used the second sentence for stating the overall comparison. At the end, the final sentence has simply wrapped up the whole discussion focusing on the major features. Remember, never write any new feature or any new statement in the final sentence. Because this is your concluding sentence, and a concluding sentence must answer the question based on the discussion above, it cannot come up with anything new.