IELTS Writing · Components

Component Demo

All six reusable components with representative use cases for every IELTS Writing task type

Component → Task-type Coverage

ComponentCovers task types / sections
KnowledgeCardAll 23 chapters — knowledge points section
AnnotationBlockAll 23 chapters — annotated commentary section
CalloutBoxAll chapters — highlighted rules, tips, and exam warnings
PracticePromptTask 1 Academic (Ch 01–07), Task 1 GT (Ch 08–10), Task 2 (Ch 11–15)
ModelAnswerTask 1 Academic, Task 1 GT, Task 2 — full model response wrapper
SelfCheckAll 23 chapters — end-of-chapter self-check questions

1 · KnowledgeCard

Props: title: string, body: string

Task 1 Academic — knowledge point

Overview is mandatory
Every band-6+ Task 1 response must contain an overview — a paragraph that states the most important trend(s) without quoting specific data. Examiners will not award Band 5 for Task Achievement if the overview is missing.

Task 1 GT — knowledge point

Register must match the prompt
IELTS GT Task 1 always specifies the relationship: formal (company/authority), semi-formal (colleague/neighbour), or informal (friend/family). Mismatching register — e.g., using contractions in a formal letter — reduces Lexical Resource and Task Achievement scores.

Task 2 — knowledge point

Thesis precision matters
'I agree with this statement' is a Band 5 thesis. 'I strongly believe that the advantages of remote work outweigh the disadvantages, particularly for knowledge workers' is Band 7+. The examiner wants a specific, defensible position, not a vague acknowledgement.

2 · AnnotationBlock

Props: label, tag, color, bg, border, text, notes: AnnotationNote[]

Task 1 Academic — introduction paragraph annotation

[ Paraphrase ]Paragraph 1 — Introduction
The line graph illustrates the proportion of the population who accessed the internet in three countries — South Korea, Brazil, and Nigeria — across a twenty-year period from 2000 to 2020.
Lexical upgrade'proportion of the population' replaces 'percentage of people'
Syntax change'across a twenty-year period from' restructures the original time phrase

Task 2 — thesis paragraph annotation

[ Thesis ]Paragraph 1 — Introduction
Although some argue that social media erodes face-to-face relationships, I believe that the benefits of staying connected across distances clearly outweigh the social costs.
ThesisClearly states the writer's position in the final clause
Cohesive device'Although' opens with a concession — avoids a one-sided opener
Complex grammarNominal clause 'that the benefits … outweigh' as object

Task 1 GT — letter opening annotation

[ Register ]Paragraph 1 — Opening
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to draw your attention to a persistent noise problem at 14 Elm Street, which has significantly disrupted my household over the past three weeks.
RegisterFormal salutation 'Dear Sir or Madam' — no first name used
Lexical upgrade'I am writing to draw your attention to' replaces 'I want to tell you about'
Modal softening'I would be grateful if you could' — polite request structure

3 · CalloutBox

Props: accent?: string, bg?: string, border?: string, label?: string, children: ReactNode

Purple — rule / golden tip (default)

The golden rule: Overview second, not last. Many candidates put the overview at the end. Placing it as the second paragraph signals to the examiner that you understand the task structure.

Amber — exam warning

Examiner warning: Never write "In conclusion, I have discussed both sides of the argument." This is a filler sentence that adds no new idea. End with a clear restatement of your thesis and a brief implication.

Green — positive reminder

Good practice: Read each Task 2 prompt twice before writing. Underline the two key discussion points. Candidates who misread the prompt cannot recover their Task Response score regardless of language quality.

4 · PracticePrompt

Props: timeMinutes?: number (default 20), intro?: string, taskInstruction?: string, minWords?: number (default 150), children: ReactNode

Task 1 Academic — data description prompt (Ch 01–07 style)

Set a timer. Write your response before reading the model answer.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The bar chart below shows the average monthly spending on food, transport, and entertainment for households in four cities — London, Tokyo, Sydney, and Toronto — in 2022.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Task 1 GT — formal letter prompt (Ch 08 style)

Set a timer. Write your response before reading the model answer.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You recently purchased a laptop computer from an online retailer. When it arrived, the screen was cracked and the keyboard was not functioning correctly.

Write a letter to the company. In your letter:

  • describe the problem with the product
  • explain why this is causing you difficulty
  • say what action you would like the company to take

You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter with 'Dear Sir or Madam,'

Write at least 150 words.

Task 2 — argumentative essay prompt (Ch 11–15 style, 40 minutes)

Set a timer. Write your response before reading the model answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people believe that governments should invest more money in public transport rather than in building new roads. Others feel that building new roads is a more effective way to reduce traffic problems.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Write about the following topic. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

5 · ModelAnswer

Props: band?: string, wordCount?: string, children: ReactNode

Task 1 Academic — model answer wrapper

Model AnswerBand 7.5+ · ~165 words

The bar chart illustrates average monthly household expenditure on three categories — food, transport, and entertainment — across four cities in 2022.

Overall, food accounted for the largest share of spending in every city, while entertainment was consistently the smallest category. London recorded the highest total expenditure, whereas Tokyo spent the least across all three areas.

In London, households spent approximately £620 per month on food, nearly double the amount spent in Tokyo (£340). Transport costs were broadly comparable across Sydney and Toronto at around £280 and £260 respectively, while London's transport figure of £390 was the highest of all four cities.

Task 1 GT — formal letter model answer

Model AnswerBand 7+ · ~160 words

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to draw your attention to a serious problem with the laptop computer (Model X500) I purchased from your website on 3 April. Upon opening the package, I discovered that the screen was cracked and the keyboard was completely unresponsive.

As I rely on this device for daily work, the malfunction has caused considerable disruption. I have been forced to use a colleague's computer and have missed two important deadlines as a result.

I would be grateful if you could arrange either a full replacement or a refund at your earliest convenience. I am happy to return the faulty item upon request.

Yours faithfully,
A. Taylor

Task 2 — essay model answer (introduction only for brevity)

Model AnswerBand 7.5+ · ~260 words

Urban congestion remains one of the most pressing infrastructure challenges facing modern governments. While some advocate for expanding road networks to accommodate growing vehicle numbers, I believe that sustained investment in public transport offers a more sustainable and equitable long-term solution.

Proponents of road construction argue that new highways relieve bottlenecks immediately, benefiting both private motorists and freight companies. In countries such as Germany, strategic motorway upgrades have demonstrably reduced journey times and logistics costs. Furthermore, road infrastructure is generally self-financing through fuel taxes and tolls, which reduces the burden on public budgets.

However, expanding roads stimulates additional car ownership, producing induced demand that erases short-term gains within a decade. Public transport, by contrast, moves far more passengers per kilometre of infrastructure and disproportionately benefits lower-income groups who cannot afford private vehicles. Cities such as Singapore and Copenhagen have demonstrated that integrating rail, bus, and cycling networks can cut congestion, reduce emissions, and improve air quality simultaneously.

6 · SelfCheck

Props: questions: string[], answer: string

Task 1 Academic — line graph self-check

Answer these from memory before looking back. If you cannot answer all, re-read the relevant section.

  1. What is the single most important paragraph for Task Achievement, and what must it NOT contain?
  2. A graph is dated 1990–2010. A student writes: 'The figure rises from 30% in 1990 to 45% in 2010.' What is the error?
  3. You want to compare two lines: South Korea and Brazil. Write one sentence using 'while' or 'whereas' with at least one specific figure.
Answers: (1) The overview paragraph — it must not contain any specific figures or data points. (2) The tense is wrong: 'rises' should be 'rose' because the graph is dated (past time). (3) Sample: 'South Korea recorded 96% by 2020, while Brazil reached 74% over the same period.'

Task 2 — opinion essay self-check

Answer these from memory before looking back. If you cannot answer all, re-read the relevant section.

  1. What is the difference between a 'discuss both views' prompt and an 'opinion' prompt?
  2. How many body paragraphs should a Task 2 essay contain, and what is the PEEL spine?
  3. Name two examiner deductions that affect the Task Response criterion.
Answers: (1) 'Discuss both views' requires balanced coverage of both sides plus your opinion; 'opinion' prompts ask you to argue one position throughout. (2) Two body paragraphs, each following Point → Evidence → Explanation → Link. (3) Any two of: off-topic response, no clear position, memorised phrases, underlength (<250 words).

Task 1 GT — letter self-check

Answer these from memory before looking back. If you cannot answer all, re-read the relevant section.

  1. List the three letter registers and give one example of each opening salutation.
  2. Which register uses contractions, phrasal verbs, and a first-name sign-off?
  3. What are the three bullet points in a GT Task 1 letter prompt, and what happens if you omit one?
Answers: (1) Formal: 'Dear Sir or Madam'; Semi-formal: 'Dear Mr Johnson'; Informal: 'Dear Sarah'. (2) Informal register. (3) The three points define what your letter must cover — omitting any one of them directly reduces Task Achievement, regardless of language quality.