Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Writing Test 1

• Task 1: describe the chart/graph/table in your own words.
• Task 2: write an argumentative essay responding to the prompt.
• On submit, AI will score you on all 4 IELTS criteria with feedback.

Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Writing Test 1 brings together a Task 1 table and a Task 2 opinion (agree/disagree) essay, and managing the time split between them is half the challenge. Task 1 asks you to summarise changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. Task 2 then turns to a discursive prompt: Access to clean water is a basic human right.

Round large numbers when comparing — '£12.4 million, almost double the 1999 figure' beats four decimal places. State a clear thesis in the introduction — partial agreement is acceptable, but the position must be unambiguous. Devote each body paragraph to one supporting reason, develop with a hypothetical example or a real-world reference, and avoid the 'on the other hand' detour that weakens Task Response.

Hold yourself to a hard twenty-minute Task 1 cap: planning two minutes, drafting fifteen, editing three. Move to Task 2 even if Task 1 feels unfinished, because the opinion (agree/disagree) essay carries double the weight. Reserve the last six minutes for a single read-through across both answers — almost every band-7 candidate fixes at least two grammar slips during that final pass.

New to this skill? Read the Writing question types guide for tactics, scoring rules, and frequency analysis across Cambridge 10–20. Or browse all Writing practice tests.

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