I struggle to understand unfamiliar charts and essay topics. What should I do?
You do not need specialist knowledge to complete IELTS Writing. For Academic Task 1, describe the information you have been given. With charts, identify the largest and smallest figures, important differences and main changes; with a process diagram, describe the stages in order.
Your overview should summarise the principal features without listing every figure. For Task 2, begin by simplifying the question in your own words and identifying exactly what it asks. Plan two relevant points; for each, explain the reason and add a clear example. Practise five-minute plans for unfamiliar topics before attempting a fully timed essay.