Ielts Task 1 Academic Module 150 Words/20 Minutes

IELTS TASK 1
ACADEMIC MODULE
150 WORDS/20 MINUTES
IELTS Writing Task 1: describing a line graph
• Useful introductory expressions:

The graph shows / indicates / depicts / illustrates
From the graph it is clear
It can be seen from the graph
As can be seen from the graph,
As is shown / illustrated by the graph,
Example: The graph shows the percentage of children using supplements in a place over a year.
Useful time expressions:

over the next... / for the following... (for the following two months... over the next six
months...)
from ... to / between ... and (from June to August... between June and August...)
during (during the first three months...)
Warning!
Per cent is the word form of the symbol %. We can write 10% or 10 per cent. Percentage is the
noun form: The percentage of children using supplements. NOT The percent of children...
Note!
You can use a combination of adjective + noun, or verb + adverb, to avoid repeating the same
phrase.
Example: There was a sharp decrease in the numbers. The numbers decreased sharply.
Language for graphs
Now lets work together to distinguish these trends using the Charts
UNDERSTANDING THE TRENDS
UNDERSTANDING THE TRENDS
IELTS Writing Task 1: introduction
• One the hardest part of IELTS writing module is writing the

introduction. If you have a good technique for this, then the
rest of the task is easy.
• The first thing to note is that writing about Tables, Graphs and
Diagrams is not the same as writing an essay in IELTS writing task
2:
• You are NOT asked to give your opinion on the information, but
generally to write a report describing the information factually.
• It is NOT necessary to write an introduction like in an essay for
this writing task. You are writing a report, which means that you
do NOT begin with a broad general statement about the topic.
• You do NOT need to write a conclusion which gives any kind of
opinion about the significance of the information.
Three steps to keep in mind
• 1. Identify the main idea behind the graph or

table. This will be the focus of your first
sentence.
2. Consider the details of what is being shown -

the units of measurement and the time frame -
and decide how much you need to include.
3. Consider the language to use - the

introductory expressions, the tenses of the verbs,
the correct expressions of time or measurement.
Three possible ways to start
• 1. Refer to the visual directly (e.g. This graph shows the population of
Canada in from 1867 up to 2007.) However, this method is not advisable,
since the instructions in the IELIS test will normally give you just this
information. If you copy directly from the paper you are wasting time,
since the examiner cannot assess your English from a copied sentence.
2. Refer directly to the main message conveyed by the visual (e.g. There
was a sharp increase in the population of Canada from 1867 up to 2007.)
This way is perfectly acceptable, and shows that you are able to
recognise the main concept or message that the graph or table shows.
3. Combine the two (e.g. The graph shows that there was a sharp
increase in the population of Canada from 1867 up to 2007.) This is also
acceptable, and is often used as a convenient way to start. In order to
use this method, it is necessary to use a few fixed expressions, which
refer to the text itself, like those below.
Introductory Expression
• The graph/table shows/indicates/illustrates/reveals/represents...
• It is clear from the graph/table...
• It can be seen from the graph/table...
• As the graph/table shows,...
• As can be seen from the graph/table,...
• As is shown by the graph/table,...
• As is illustrated by the graph/table,...
• From the graph/table it is clear....
• It is always best to avoid using personal pronouns. Instead of saying We can see
from the graph..., it is better to use the passive or impersonal constructions.
Most of the above expressions can be followed by a clause starting with that.
Several of the above expressions can be followed by a noun or noun phrase.
Several of the above expressions must be followed by a main clause.

Warnings
• 1. Avoid using the phrase: according to the graph. This is because the

phrase according to generally means that the information comes
from another person or source, and not from our own knowledge. (For
example, According to Handbook, the Archaic Period started around 7000
BCE and ended around 1200 BCE.)
In the case of a graph or table that is shown, the information is there right
in front of you, the writer, and also the reader, and so you know it does not
come from another source.
2. The expressions as can be seen from the graph or as is shown/illustrated

by the table do NOT contain the dummy subject it. Avoid these expressions
if you think you are going to forget this unusual grammar.
3. Avoid using the word presents. It requires a sophisticated summarising

noun to follow. (For example: The graph presents an overview of the
population growth of Canada between 1867 and 2007.)
The pie charts below show the average household expenditures in Japan and
Malaysia in the year 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
• Average Household Expenditures by Major Category
The bar chart below shows the percentage of students who passed their high school
competency exams, by subject and gender, during the period 2010-2011.
The graph below shows the number of books read by men and women at Burnaby
Public Library from 2011 to 2014.
Here is a perfect example
The graph gives information about Burnaby Public Library between 2011 and
2014. It shows how many library books people read over this four-year period.
As can be seen from the graph, there were different trends for men and women.
The number of books read by men increased steadily between 2011 and 2012,
from about 3000 to 4000. After that, the number rose dramatically to 14000
books in 2014. This was the highest figure in the period.
Women started off reading more books than men, but their numbers followed a
different pattern. Between 2011 and 2012, there was an increase of 3000 from
5000 books to 8000 books, and then a gradual rise to 10000 books in 2013.
However, in 2014, their numbers fell back to 8000 again.
Overall, there was a strong upward trend in the number of books read by men.
Although women read more books than men in 2011, their reading fell to below
the level of men in 2014.
(162 words)
The diagrams below show the changes that have taken place at Queen Mary
Hospital since its construction in 1960.
• The diagrams show Queen Mary Hospital at three different stages in its development:
1960, 1980 and 2000.
• In 1960, the hospital was built close to a main road and next to a shopping centre. A
large area behind the hospital was turned into a car park, while the area behind the
shopping centre was farmland.
• By 1980, the shopping centre had been demolished in order to make way for two
additional hospital building which became a pharmacy and a cancer centre.
Furthermore, the hospital gained the farmland and converted it into a nursing school.
• In 2000, the main hospital building remained unchanged but the cancer centre was
extended to cover the entire nursing school. As a result of this, the original car park
was divided into two so that it provided a smaller car park and a small nursing school.
• During this period, the hospital has increased in size and, in addition to a new nursing
school, a cancer centre has been created and extended. Hence the capacity of the car
park has been reduced by a half.
• (178 words)
The line graph below shows the percentage of tourists to England who visited four
different attractions in Brighton.
• The line graph shows the percentage of tourists to England who visited certain
Brighton attractions between 1980 and 2010. We can see that in 1980 and in
2010 the favourite attractions were the pavilion and the festival. In 1980 the least
popular attraction was the pier but in 2010 this changed and the art gallery was
the least popular.
• During the 1980s and 1990s there was a sharp increase in visitors to the pavilion
from 28% to 48% and then the percentage gradually went down to 31% in 2010.
The trend for the art gallery was similar to the pavilion. Visitors increased rapidly
from 22% to 37% from 1980 to 1985 then gradually decreased to less than 10%
over the next twenty-five years. The number of tourists who visited the Brighton
Festival fluctuated slightly but in general remained steady at about 25%. Visitors
to the pier also fluctuated from 1980 to 2000 then rose significantly from 12% to
22% between 2000 and 2010.
• (163 words)
The two pie charts below show some employment patterns in Great Britain in 1992.
The diagram below shows the production of electricity using a system called Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

The chart below shows the number of travellers using three major airports in New York City between 1995 and
2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
The line graph below shows the changes in the share price of Outokumpu companies in
Euros between January 2006 and December 2010.

• The graph shows the changes and a decline overall in the share price of
Outokumpu in a five-year period from January 2006 through December
2010.
• At the beginning of this period the share price was at EUR 13 per share.
There were several fluctuations until late 2006 when there was a sudden
increase from EUR 21 to EUR 31. This higher price did not last long,
however, and it fell before rising strongly again in 2008. From mid-2008
there was a sharp downward trend through the end of the year when it
fell to the lowest point in this period at just over EUR 7 per share. After
that the share price recovered and, despite some fluctuations, continued
to rise until it reached a peak of EUR 17 in early 2010. Until late 2010 the
trend was downward again, ending the year at just over EUR 12.
• Outokumpu made significant gains and losses during this period but
overall lost around EUR 1 per share.
• (164 words)
The graph below shows female unemployment rates in each country of the United Kingdom in 2013 and 2014.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
The two pie charts below show the online shopping sales for retail sectors in Canada in 2005 and 2010.
relevant.
• The two pie charts compare the percentages of online sales across different retail
sectors in Canada in the years 2005 and 2010. For three of the sectors, it is
evident that over this time frame there was significant change in their proportion
of online transactions.
At 35% we can see that electronics and appliance sector accounted for the
majority of online sales in 2005, but this percentage had dropped to 30% by 2010.
During the same five-year period, as an increasing number of people chose to
purchase food and beverage online, we can see that transactions went from just
22% to 32%, making it the retail sector with the largest overall proportion of the
online market.
In 2005, the home furnishing industry boasted an impressive 25% of the total
online sales in Canada. However, by 2010, the figure had fallen considerably to
15%. Interestingly, online sales of video games eventually overtook sales of home
furnishings, although video games still represented only 23% of the market.
• (165 words)
The three pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by local authorities in Someland in 1980, 1990
and 2000.
relevant.
• The charts show how much local authorities spent on a range of services in Someland in
three separate years: 1980, 1990 and 2000.
In all three years, the greatest expenditure was on education. But while K-12 education
saw a fall from 25% in 1980 to only 18% of spending in 2000, higher education remained
the largest proportion, reaching 45% of total spending in 1990 and ending at 40% in 2000.
Expenditure on health and human resources had increased to 20% by 1990 before
decreasing to only 10% by the end of the period. In contrast, the share of transportation
saw an opposite trend. This cost decreased to only 6% of total expenditure in 1990 but
rose dramatically in 2000 when it represented 22% of the total budget. Similarly, the cost
of environmental services saw a rising trend, growing from only 4% to 9% by 2000.
Overall, higher education constituted the largest cost to local authorities, and while
spending increased for transportation and environmental services, there were
corresponding drops in expenditure on health and human resources and K-12 education.
• (178 words)
The graph below shows the amount of money spent on books in Germany,
France, Italy and Austria between 1995 and 2005.

Biggest /sharp /least /dramatically /much/ less/ more/ three times
• The line graph compares the amount of money spent on buying books in
Germany, France, Italy and Austria over a period of ten years between 1995
and 2005.
In 1995 Austria spent the ........... amount of money on books, while Italy and

France spent about as ........... as each other. However, by 2001, the gap in
spending between these two countries had widened and
considerably ........... money was spent in France than In Italy.
As can be seen from the graph, the amount of money spent increased in all
four countries but rose the most ........... in Austria. The period between 2000
and 2005 saw a ........... growth and in 2005 the Austrians spent ........... as
much money as they did in 1995.
However, during this ten-year period, Germany remained the ........... spenders

on book, with all three other countries spending much ........... on them.
The graph below shows the population change between 1940 and 2000 in three different counties in the U.S.
state of Oregon.
relevant.
• The graph shows the increase in population of three counties, Columbia, Yamhill
and Washington in the U.S. state of Oregon, between 1940 and 2000. In 1940,
Columbia had the lowest population of the three counties, at around 25,000.
This compared with about 30,000 in Yamhill and approximately 75,000 in
Washington.
• By 1970, Columbia’s population had risen to just under 36,000. Although this
appears on the graph to be a gentle increase, it is in fact an increase of
approximately 50%. Yamhill’s population also rose by nearly 50% between 1940
and 1970: from 30,000 to just under 45,000. However, the greatest real increase
was in Washington, where the population in 1970 had increased by approximately
75,000, to 125,000.
• The years 1970 to 2000 saw the populations of Columbia and Yamhill increase by
approximately the same amounts that they had increased by the thirty years
before. In 2000, Columbia’s population – at approximately 76,000 – was triple what
it had been in 1940. Likewise, Yamhill’s population, at around 90,000, was almost
triple what it was in 1940.
• Although Washington’s increase in population between 1940 and 1970 was large,
its increase in the following thirty years was even sharper, rising from about
125,000 in 1970 to more than 240,000 in 2000.
The graph below shows the changes in food consumption by Chinese people between 1985 and 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
• The graph shows changes in the amount of fish, salt and meat eaten per person
per week in China between 1985 and 2010.
From the graph we can see that people in China consumed more fish than either
meat or salt throughout the period. In 1985, the consumption of fish stood at
610 grams, then increased to 700 grams in 1990. Although it dipped in 1995, it
then rose steadily and reached 850 grams in 2010.
In contrast, there was a consistent drop in salt consumption. The amount

consumed decreased steadily from almost 500 grams per person to only 200
grams by 2010. The amount of meat consumed weekly started at about 100
grams. However, this gradually increased throughout the period. By 2010 it was
at the same level as the consumption of salt.
Overall, the consumption of fish rose, while the consumption of salt fell. In
addition, the consumption of meat, while at a relatively low level, rose
significantly during this period.
The charts give information about two genres of TV programmes watched by men and women and four different age groups in Australia.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
• The charts give information about the genres of TV programmes that Australian men and
women and different age groups watch. It is clear from the charts that women tend to
watch ...........television than man overall, although they watch slightly ........... game shows. The
people who watch the ........... television are in the 45+ age group.
Nearly 70% of women watch reality shows, which is almost ........... as many as the percentage
of men who choose this genre of programme. Nevertheless, most age groups
watch ........... reality shows than game shows revealing that game shows are
generally ........... popular than reality shows.
The percentage of people watching reality shows increases steadily from ages 16 to 45 with
the........... percentage of viewers, at just over 50% of the age group 16-24 and
the ........... percentage, at 68% of the over-45s.
However, the pattern is different for game shows. The number of programmes watched by 25-
to 44-year-olds is ........... lower than the number watched by 16- to 24-year-olds and those over
45. Just over 50% of 16- to 24-year-olds watch game shows, but this share is not ........... high as
the share of people aged 45 and over watching game shows, at nearly 70%. Only 41% of 35- to
44-year-olds watch game shows, and the share of 24- to 34-year-olds is ........... lower at 38%.
The map below is of the town of Canterbury. A new school (S) is planned for the area. The map shows two
possible sites for the school.
relevant.
People’s reasons for using the car in city
The diagrams below give information on transport and car use in Edmonton.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,

and make comparisons where relevant.
People’s reasons for using the car in

city
Commute to work 55%

Shopping 15%
Leisure activities 15%
Taking children to 40%

school
Business 45%
The graphs below provide information on global population figures and
figures for urban populations in different world regions.

The bar chart below shows the estimated sales of jeans for two companies next year in
Turkey. The pie chart shows the projected market share of the two companies in jeans
at the end of next year.
The following diagram shows how greenhouse gases trap energy from the Sun.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown
below.
lead to release result in subsequently
fell reach less decades
amounts as a result of
Energy from the Sun .................... the Earth as heat. Some of this heat energy
is.................... radiated into space, while some of it is trapped by greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere and reflected back to Earth. This is a natural process, but
in recent...................., human activities have .................... an increase in
the.................... of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which is now trapping
too much heat.
One of the main greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide, and extra quantities of
this.................... into the atmosphere .................... burning fossil fuels as a
source of energy in power stations, factories and homes. Exhaust gases from cars
and lorries.................... further emissions of carbon dioxide.
Plants serve to remove some of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by
absorbing it through their leaves. However, as large areas of
forest .................... in the Amazon and elsewhere,.................... carbon dioxide is
removed in this way.
• Energy from the Sun reaches the Earth as heat. Some of this heat energy
is subsequently then radiated into space, while some of it is trapped by
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and reflected back to Earth. This is a natural
process, but in recent decades, human activities have led to an increase in
the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which is now trapping too
much heat.
One of the main greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide, and extra quantities of
this are released/have been released into the atmosphere as a result of burning
fossil fuels as a source of energy in power stations, factories and homes. Exhaust
gases from cars and lorries result in/have resulted in further emissions of carbon
dioxide.
Plants serve to remove some of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by
absorbing it through their leaves. However, as large areas of forest are (being)
felled/have been felled in the Amazon and elsewhere, less carbon dioxide is
removed in this way.
The flowchart illustrates the production of coloured plastic paper clips in a small factory.
Write a report for a university tutor describing the production process.

The diagram below shows how a central heating system in a house works.
• This diagram provides an overview of a domestic central heating system. It
shows how the tank, boiler and pipes ensure a constant flow of hot water to
both the radiators and the taps.
The cold water enters the house and is stored in a water storage tank in the
roof. From there ü flows down to the boiler, located on the ground floor of the
house.
The boiler, which is fuelled by gas or oil, heats up the water as it passes through
it. The hot water is then pumped round the house through a system of pipes
and flows into the radiators, located in different rooms. The water circulates
through the radiators, which have small tubes inside them to help distribute
the heat, and this warms each of the rooms. Some of the water is directed to
the taps to provide hot water for the house.
Once the water has been through the pipes and radiators, it is returned to the
boiler to be re-heated and circulated round the house again.
The map below is of the town of Garlsdon. A new supermarket (S) is planned for the town. The map shows
two possible sites for the supermarket.
relevant.
The graph below shows waste recycling rates in the U.S. from 1960 to 2011.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
Sharp/ triple /peak /reach/ steady/ from/ rise/
compare/ significant
• The graph depicts waste recycling rates in the U.S. ........... 1960 to 2011, in both
percentage and tons.
Between 1960 and 1970, the percentage of garbage being recycled annually remained
relatively........... at just over 6%. It then ........... slightly over the next 15 years to 10.1% in
1985.
On the other hand, the amount of garbage being recycled ........... during the same period,
from 5.6 million tons in 1960 to 16.7 million tons in 1985. Following this ........... increase,
the amount of waste material being recycled has risen ........... between 1985 and 2011
when it ........... at 86.9 million tons.
Similarly, the recycling rate continued to grow ........... from 1985 to 1995, and then at a
slower rate over the next 15 years until it ........... a peak of 34.7% in 2011. However, this
figure is still disappointing ........... to the total amount of waste being recycled each year.
• (150 words)
The graph below gives information from Annual Energy Outlook 2008 about consumption of energy in the USA
since 1980 with projection until 2030.
relevant.
• The graph shows consumption of energy in the U.S. since 1980 with projections through 2030.
The historical trends show Petrol and Oil as the major sources of fuel, rising from 35 quadrillion
(35q) units used in 1980 to 42q in 2012. Despite some fluctuation between 1980 and 1995, there
was a steady increase, which is expected to continue, reaching 47q in 2030.
Consumption of energy from natural gas and coal followed a similar pattern over the period. From
20q and 15q respectively in 1980, gas showed an initial fall and coal a gradual increase, with the
two fuels equal between 1985 and 1990. Consumption has fluctuated since 1990 but both now
provide 24q. Coal consumption is projected to rise to 31q in 2030, whereas after 2014, natural gas
is forecast to remain stable at 25q.
In 1980, energy from solar/wind, nuclear, and hydropower was the least-used, with only 4q.
Nuclear has risen by 3q, and solar/wind by 2. Since 2005, hydropower has fallen back to the 1980
figure. It is expected to remain approximately constant through 2030, while the others are
projected to rise gradually after 2025.
Overall, fossil fuels will remain the chief energy source for the US, with a little bit of hydroelectric,
nuclear and a smidgen of renewables like wind and solar.
• (215 words)
The line graph below gives information about the number of visitors to three London museums
between June and September 2013.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
Check the horizontal axis to find whether the graph refers to past, present, future or all three.
We use the present simple to describe the graph: The graph shows … , We can see …
If the graph refers to past period of time, we use the past simple, and if the graph includes future
times, we use will or it is predicted that.
• The graph ........... (show) how many people ........... (visit) three

London museums in the summer of 2013. Most
visitors ........... (go) to the British museum ........... June and
September. The number ........... (fluctuate) between 500 and
750. By contrast, the Science Museum and the Natural History
Museum ........... (receive) fewer visitors. The number of people
who visited the Science Museum ........... (drop) gradually from
400 thousand to 300 from June to August then ........... (rise) to
450 thousand ........... September. We can ........... (see) that the
trend for the Natural History Museum ........... (be) similar. There
was a sharp drop in visitors from June to July. The
number ........... (remain stable) in August and
then ........... (increase) steadily in September.
The graph below gives information about international tourist arrivals in five countries.
The bar chart below gives information about the percentage of the population living in urban
areas in the world and in different continents.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
by contrast in spite of compares smaller
shows marked double highest
The bar chart ........... the urbanization percentage of the world in 1950

and ........... this with the percentage in 2007 and the projected percentage for
2030.
Between 1950 and 2030, the proportion of the world's population residing in
cities is expected to..........., growing from 29% to 60%. However, this rate is
less ........... in some continents than others.
For example, 64% of the population of North America was urban in 1950,
increasing to 79% by 2007. ..........., just 15% of the African population was
urban in 1950, but this rose to 37% by 2007. This represents one of
the ........... urbanization rates in the world, even though the percentage of
Africans in urban areas is still ........... than the world average.
It is also clear from the graph that, urbanization in Latin America is projected to
be higher than Europe in 2030, ........... being lower in 1950.
The graph below shows the unemployment rates in the US and Japan
between March 1993 and March 1999.
The charts below show the percentage of their food budget the average
family spent on restaurant meals in different years. The graph shows the
number of meals eaten in fast food restaurants and sit-down restaurants.
The graph shows Underground Station Passenger Numbers in London.
The chart below shows the amount of money per week spent on fast foods in
Britain. The graph shows the trends in consumption of fast foods.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.
Eating sweet foods produces acid in the mouth, which can cause tooth
decay. (High acid levels are measured by low pH values)
The diagram below shows the production of steam using a gas cooled nuclear reactor.
• A gas-cooled nuclear reactor consists of the reactor itself and a heat exchanger.
The reactor contains uranium fuel elements which are surrounded by graphite
moderators and topped by charge tubes for loading fuel elements, and boron
control rods. The whole reactor is contained in a pressure vessel surrounded by
a concrete shield.
From the reactor the hot gas flows through a duct into the heat exchanger
which is outside the concrete radiation shielding. In the heat exchanger, steam
is generated in a secondary loop. There a pipe brings in water which is heated to
steam, and this then flows out to the turbo-alternator. Meanwhile the hot gas
sinks to the bottom of the heat exchanger and passes through a gas blower
which pushes it into a cool gas duct and back to the reactor.
As can be seen, this is a continuous cycle that keeps the reactor from
overheating, while carrying away the heat and steam, which will power the
turbines.
• (161 words)
The diagrams show a structure that is used to generate electricity from wave power.
• The two diagrams show how electricity can be generated from the rise and fall of water
caused by sea waves.
The process involves a structure which is mounted on the side of a cliff or sea wall. This
structure consists of a large chamber. One end is open to the sea, and the other leads into a
vertical column, which is open to the atmosphere. A turbine is installed inside this column
and this is used to generate the electricity in two phases.
The first diagram indicates that when a wave approaches the device, water is forced into the
chamber, applying pressure on the air within the column. This air escapes to atmosphere
through the turbine, thereby producing electricity.
The second diagram illustrates the next part of the process when wave retreats. As the water
level falls, the air from outside the column is sucked back in through the turbine. As a result,
electricity continues to be generated. The turbine rotates only in one direction, regardless of
the direction of the air flow.
In conclusion, we can see that this structure is useful as electricity is generated in both
phases: entering and retreating of water.
• (195 words)
The pie charts below give information about world population in 1900 and 2000.
• The pie charts illustrate changes in the population of different areas of the
world between 1900 and 2000. The major regions are represented as
percentages of the total world population.
From 1900 to 2000, the percentage of people living in Africa more than
doubled from 4.5% to 10%, while Latin America’s proportion almost tripled in
the same period. On the other hand, the percentage of population in Europe
and Asia decreased over the last century. Europe’s percentage dropped from
25% to 14%, while Asia declined from 60% to 54%. North America’s
percentage however, remained constant at 5% in 1900 and 2000. The Middle
East and North Africa, a new category in 2000, represented 6% of world
population.
Overall, this represents a huge increase in the number of humans on the

planet, from 1.6 billion to 6 billion in just one century. Most of this population
growth has occurred in developing countries.
• (151 words)
The pie charts below show the average household expenditures in a country
in 1950 and 2010.
Average Household Expenditures by Major Category
Look at the phrases in italic. Choose the phrase which sounds more formal.
• The two pie charts give information about what households spent their money on /
household expenditure on goods and services in 1950 and 2010. It is immediately
obvious that there are some quite significant differences / some things are significantly
different between the two charts.
In 2010 the largest proportion of expenditure was / most money was spent on food
whereas in 1950 it was on housing, with food for just 11.2%. There is a great difference
in terms of the amount of money people’s spent on housing / housing
expenditure between the two years. In 1950 72.1% of the total household budget / the
total of what households spent went towards housing, compared to only 22% in 2010.
There has been a notable increase in / People have notably increased the amount of
money spent on transportation between the two dates. In addition, the charts show a
significant rise in the proportion of money spent on health care / that people spent
more on health care in 2010 compared to 1950.
There are some similarities, however. For example, in both 1950 and 2010 people spent
a similar proportion on education. / the proportion of education expenditure was
roughly the same.
• The two pie charts give information about household expenditure on goods
and services in 1950 and 2010. It is immediately obvious that there are some
quite significant differences between the two charts.
In 2010 the largest proportion of expenditure was on food whereas in 1950 it

was on housing, with food for just 11.2%. There is a great difference in terms
of housing expenditure between the two years. In 1950 72.1% of the total
household budget went towards housing, compared to only 22% in 2010.
There has been a notable increase in the amount of money spent on

transportation between the two dates. In addition, the charts show a
significant rise in the proportion of money spent on health care in 2010
compared to 1950.
There are some similarities, however. For example, in both 1950 and 2010 the
proportion of education expenditure was roughly the same.
The pie charts below show electricity generation by source in New Zealand and Germany in 1980 and 2010.
relevant.
Electricity Generation by Source in Electricity Generation by Source in

New Zealand Germany
• The charts compare the sources of electricity in New Zealand and Germany in the years 1980
and 2010. Between these years, electricity generation almost doubled, rising from 127 units
to 200 in New Zealand, and from 107 to 214 units in Germany.
In 1980 New Zealand used coal as the main electricity source (56 units) and the remainder
was produced from natural gas, hydro power (each producing 30 units) and petroleum (which
produced only 11 units). By 2010, coal had become the fuel for more than 75% of electricity
produced and only hydro continued to be another significant source supplying approximately
20%.
In contrast, Germany used coal as a source for only 28 units of electricity in 1980, which was
matched by natural gas. The remaining 49 units were produced largely from petroleum and
nuclear power, with hydro contributing only 7 units. But by 2010 nuclear power, which was
not used at all in New Zealand, had developed into the main source, producing almost 75% of
electricity, at 155 units, while coal and petroleum together produced only 55 units. Other
sources were no longer significant.
Overall, it is clear by 2010 these two countries relied on different principal fuel sources: New
Zealand relied on coal and Germany on nuclear power.
• (210 words)
The two graphs show the main sources of energy in the USA in the 1980s
and the 1990s.
• The two graphs show that oil was the major energy source in the USA in
both 1980 and 1990 and that coal, natural gas and hydroelectric power
remained in much the same proportions. On the other hand, there was a
dramatic rise in nuclear power, which doubled its percentage over the ten
years.
Oil supplied the largest percentage of energy, although the percentage

decreased from 42% in 1980 to 33% in 1990. Coal in 1990 was the second
largest source of energy, increasing its proportion to 27% from 22% in the
previous decade. Natural gas, the second largest source in 1980 at 26%,
decreased its share very slightly to provide 25% of America’s energy ten
years later. There was no change in the percentage supplied by
hydroelectric power which remained at 5% of the total energy used.
Nuclear power the greatest change: in 1990 it was 10%, twice that of the
1980s.
• (152 words)
The chart below shows the GDP growth per year for three countries
between 2007 and 2010.
The chart below shows the percentage of total US population aged 65 and
over between 1900 and 2000.
• The chart shows the percentage of total population aged 65 and over in the U.S.
between 1900 and 2000. In the year 1900 just over 4% of the population was aged
over 65. However, by 1960 this figure had doubled.
The number of people aged between 75 and 84 remained fairly steady between
1900 and 1930, making up only 1-1.3% of the population. The figure began to rise
more significantly in 1940 and by 1970 it had tripled to reach 3% of the population.
Although there was no change in the number of people aged 65 -74 between 1960
and 1970, the number of people aged 75 and over increased during this time. By
the year 2000, 12.4% of the US population had reached the age of 65 or more,
although this was slightly lower than in 1990 when it peaked at 12.6%.
The chart shows that today people in the U.S. can expect to live longer than in
1900. By the year 2000 more than 12% of the population had managed to live to
the age of 65 and over compared to only 4.1% in 1900.
• (187 words)
The chart below shows information about the challenges people face when
they go to live in other countries.
• The chart shows the challenges people face when they settle in a new country and how the
challenges vary according to people’s ages.
The most challenging aspect for young people aged 18 to 34 is making new friends, a problem
experienced by 46% of the people in this age group. However, only 36% of 35 - 54 year olds
find it hard to make friends, while even fewer people over 55 (23%) have this problem.
54% of the older age group finds learning the local language the biggest obstacle when
settling. In comparison, the youngest age group finds this easier, and the percentage of people
who have problems learning the language is much lower, at only 29%.
In contrast to their language-learning difficulties, only 22% of people in the oldest age group
have trouble finding accommodation. However, this is the second most significant problem for
the other two age groups with 39% to 40% of the people in each group finding it hard.
In general, all age groups experience the same problems to some extent, but people over the
age of 55 reported that they face markedly fewer challenges settling in a new country than
their younger respondents.
• (198 words)
The graph shows Internet Usage in Taiwan by Age Group, 1998-2000.

• The graph shows changes in the age profile of Internet users in Taiwan between 1998
and 2000.
The main users of the Internet in Taiwan are young adults between 16 and 30 years old.
In 1998, they accounted for more than half of all users. In 1999 the number dropped
slightly to 45%, but even in 2000 they were the biggest group.
The second biggest group of users is aged between 31 and 50. They made up 41% in
1998, falling slightly to 37% in 2000. When combined with the 16-30 age group, over
94% of users in 1998 were between 16 and 50.
However this number is dropping steadily as more children and older users log on. In
1999, the number of children online quadrupled from 2% to 8%, and it continued to
increase in 2000. There were similar increases for older users, rising from 4% in 1998 to
10% in 2000.
In summary, while adults between 16 and 50 still represent the great majority of
Internet users in Taiwan, their share is declining as more children and older users join
the web.
The graph shows estimated oil production capacity for several Gulf countries between 1990 and 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
• The graph shows Oil Production Capacity in millions of barrels per day for selected
Gulf countries. There are several features in this graph.
The most significant feature is that oil production will increase sharply in almost all
the countries shown. Kuwait and Iraq are both expected to double their output
between 1990 and 2010, with Kuwait's production rising from 1.8 million barrels
per day (bpd) in 1990 to 3.8 in 2010. Iran will also increase its output by a slightly
smaller amount. After remaining steady at 2.5 million bpd from 1990 to 2000, the
UAE's output is expected to approach 4.0 million bpd in 2010. Only Qatar's
production is predicted to fall, back to 0.8 million bpd after a slight rise in 2000.
However, the greatest increase will be from Saudi Arabia. In 1990, its output
capacity at 8.5 million bpd exceeded the combined production of Iran, Iraq and
Kuwait. This lead is expected to continue with a 75% increase in production to 14.5
million bpd 2010.
In summary, while most of the countries are expected to show increases, Saudi
Arabia will maintain and strengthen its position as the major producer.
The charts below show the main reasons for study among students of different
age groups and the amount of support they received from employers.
• The first graph shows that there is a gradual decrease in study for career reasons
with age. Nearly 80% of students under 26 years, study for their career. This
percentage gradually declines by 10-20% every decade. Only 40% of 40-49yr olds
and 18% of over 49yr olds studing for career reasons in late adulthood.
Conversely, the first graph also shows that study stemming from interest increases
with age. There are only 10% of under 26yr olds studing out of interest. The
percentage increases slowly till the beginning of the fourth decade, and increases
dramatically in late adulthood. Nearly same number of 40-49yr olds study for
career and interest. However 70% of over 49yr olds study for interest in
comparison to 18% studing for career reasons in that age group.
The second graph shows that employer support is maximum (approximately 60%)
for the under 26yr students. It drops rapidly to 32% up to the third decade of life,
and then increses in late adulthood up to about 44%. It is unclear whether
employer support is only for career-focused study, but the highest level is for those
students who mainly study for career purposes.
• The table shows the number of medals won by the top ten countries in the
London 2012 Olympic Games. The USA won greatest number of medals overall
with the total of 104. They won more gold medals than silver and more medals
than any other country in both categories. China had the second number of
medals at 88, and like the USA, China won fewer silver medals than gold medals.
While Russia’s silver medal total was better than Great Britain’s, they did not do
as well as Great Britain in the gold medals, winning just 24. In fact Great Britain
had a lower overall medal total than Russia but, as the table is based on the
number of gold medals won, they were placed third. Similarly, Germany was
significantly more successful at winning medals than South Korea, with a total of
44 compared to South Korea’s 28, but because South Korea won two more gold
medals than Germany they were ranked higher. Australia gave the worst
performance in this group, winning only seven gold and sixteen silver medals.
• (178 words)
The tables below give information about the amount of beer and fruit juice consumed per
person per year in different countries.
comparisons where relevant
*Litres per person per year
Beer* Fruite juice*
1 Ireland 155 litres
1 Canada 52.6 litres
2 Germany 119 litres
2 United States 42.8 litres
3 Austria 106 litres
4 Belgium 98 litres 3 Germany 38.6 litres
5 Denmark 98 litres 4 Austria 37.3 litres

5 Sweden 35.5 litres
6 United Kingdom 97 litres
6 Australia 34.4 litres
7 Australia 89 litres
7 Finland 33 litres
8 United States 85 litres
8 United Kingdom 29.3 litres
9 Netherlands 80 litres
9 Netherlands 28.1 litres
10 Finland 79 litres
10 New Zealand 24.8 litres
• The tables show the amount of beer and fruit juice consumed per person per
year in countries around the world. Beer is most popular in Ireland, with the
average Irish drinking 155 litres per year. Germany ranks second with 119
litres per person. In fact, the top six countries in terms of consumption of
beer are all European. Australia and The United States come next in seventh
and eighth positions, with Netherland and Finland consuming the least beer
of the countries mentioned. Finnish people only drink an average of 79 litres
of beer a year.
The country which consumes by the greatest quantity of fruit juice per capita
is Canada. Canadians drink an average of 52.6 litres each a year, that’s almost
double the consumption of New Zealand, which is placed at the bottom of
the table. Another North American country, The United States, come second
in the table, while German drinkers are ranked at number three, consuming
an average of 38.6 litres annually. Swedes drink approximately the same
quantity of fruit juice as Australians, which is 35.5 litres per year. The Finnish
and the British drink 33 and 29.3 litres per year respectively.
• (194 words)
The flow chart below shows an automatic photo booth.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
• The flow chart shows the main feature of a coin-operated photo booth, which
allows the user to take large or passport-size self-portraits.
• Two buttons on the outside of the booth allow you to select the size of photo
(large format or passport size). If the large format setting is chosen, you will only
receive one photo. Passport-sized photos are issued in sets of four. Two buttons
below these let you choose colour or black and white, although you must choose
colour for passport photos. There is also a slot on the outside of the booth for
the insertion of coins, and a larger slot where the photos are delivered.
• Inside the booth, there is an adjustable seat to sit on. The seat should be
adjusted so that your eyes are level with the arrow on the screen. A mirror
allows you to check your appearance before the photos are taken.
• The curtain in the doorway should be closed when the photos are taken. A light
to the right of the screen comes on, telling you to prepare. After this, the flash
goes off after three seconds. The photographs are delivered outside within sixty
seconds.
• (193 words)
The diagram shows the relationship between a numbers of different languages. Summarise the
information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
• The diagram shows the varieties of English spoken throughout the world and how
they are related.
• There are two main branches of English: British English and American English. The
British English Branch is geographically wide-spread. It extends across several
continents from the West Indies, through the British Isles themselves, Africa, the
Indian subcontinent, the Far East and Australasia. In addition to the four varieties
of English spoken in the British Isles (i.e. in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England),
it includes a large number of other varieties, for instance Jamaican English, South
Africa English, and Australian English.
• The American branch is largely restricted to the American continent. It comprises
the varieties of English spoken in the different region of the United States itself, as
well as in Canada. Beyond the continent, the extent of its influence is limited to
the Philippines in the Far East and American Samoa in the Pacific.
• In brief, the diagram shows that, like the economic and political influence of the
Anglo Saxon countries, the reach of English has extended to virtually every region
of the world.
• (180 words)
The diagram below shows two different processes for manufacturing black tea.
• The diagram shows the two processes for manufacturing black tea. The
traditional way is used for making loose tea and modern process is ideal for
teabags.
• When collecting tea, the tea picker picks only the two top leaves and the bud of
ensure a high quality tea. Then, the tea leaves go through withering, where
leaves are spread out and air is passed through withering, where leaves are
spread out and air is passed through them to remove up to 60 per cent of their
moisture.
• After that, the leaves are ready for rolling or cutting. Factories use traditional
methods of rolling and crushing or faster modern methods of cutting, tearing
and curling to make teabags. In both processes, natural enzymes are produced
from the leaves. The next step is oxidation, where the enzymes from the leaves
mix with the air. This changes the color of the leaves from green to copper and
creates a nice flavor and aroma. Finally, the leaves are fired and dried. By this
stage, little moisture remains in the tea-just three per cent.
• (178 words)
The bar charts below give information about the railway system in six cities in Europe.
• The bar charts illustrate comparable information related to railway systems in
six capital cities in Europe; Paris, Stockholm, Lisbon, Rome, Madrid and Berlin.
• In general, railway systems in different cities vary in terms of the start dates
of each system, the sizes, and the numbers of passengers using the systems in
a year.
• As far as the ages are concerned, Paris has the oldest railway system among
the six cities. It was opened in the year 1863, which is incomparable to the
other cities. On the other hand, Berlin has the newest railway system which
was opened in Europe 2001.
• In terms of the sizes, Paris, for certain, has the longest route, 394km, which is
nearly twice the figure for Stockholm. Madrid, in contrast, has the shortest
route in its railway system, only 28km.
• When it comes to the numbers of people using the railway system in
each, Lisbon shows the largest number of 1927 million passengers in a year
while Madrid serves the smallest number of railway users, 45 millions.
• (170 words)
The diagram shows the procedure for university entry for high school graduates.
Write a report for a university or college lecturer describing the information.
• The flowchart illustrates the various steps that a high school student must
follow to enter university.
• Once the high school has been obtained, students need to complete an
application for university entrance. This can be downloaded from the university
website. The completed application should then be sent to the administration.
• Applicants receive a reply two weeks later which is provisional acceptance, a
rejection or an acceptance. If a rejection is received, students can either cancel
their application altogether or complete an application for an alternative
course and send to the administration office.
• A provisional acceptance means that more documentation is required.
Applicants in this situation should complete the additional documentation and
submit them to the office. When an acceptance is received, the applicant
should complete the enrolment form and select which subjects he or she
wishes to undertake and register with the dean. When all this is complete, the
applicant may enter university.
• (194 words)
The graph gives information about drinking habits of the US population by age. Summarise the
information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
• The bar chart shows information about people’s drinking behavior by age
group in the US. Several trends are evident.
• The highest proportion of those who never drink (nearly two-thirds) was in
the 16 to 24 years group. The proportion tended to decrease with age. Only
40 per cent of people aged 65 to 74 had never drink.
• On the other hand, the percentage of those who had quit drinking tended to
increase with age. Only 5 per cent of those in the youngest age group (16 to
24) were ex-drinkers, as opposed to roughly 40 per cent of those aged 65 to
75.
• The percentage of those classed as heavy drinkers also showed a distinct
pattern. People in middle age (35 to 54) tended to be the heaviest drinkers –
approximately 13 per cent of the total. A relatively small proportion of those
in the youngest age group, and an even smaller percentage of those in the
oldest group (roughly 3 per cent) drink heavily.
• Overall, age appears to be a significant factor in patterns of drinking behavior.
• (177 words)
The pie charts below show the percentage of housing owned and rented in the UK in 1991 and
2007. Summarize the information by describing the main features of the charts and making
comparisons where appropriate.
• The pie charts compare home ownership and renting for 1991 and 2007 in
percentage terms. In 1991, home owner were the most popular type of
housing, accounting for 60%, or more than over half of all homes. The next
largest sector was social rented homes, amounting to 23% or nearly one-
third of homes. The remaining homes were mostly privately rented (11%)
with a tiny fraction being social housing (6%).
• Sixteen years later, in 2007, the number of home owners had risen to 70%, or
almost three quarters of all homes. This was an increase of 10% compared
with 1991. Much of the increase in home ownership can be explained by the
decrease in social rented homes, which had dropped from 23% to 17%.
• The percentage of privately rented homes had remained unchanged at 11%.
However, there were 5 million more homes in 2007 compared with 1991 so
the number of rented homes had increased despite the same percentage.
Social housing has decreased three-fold from 6% in 1991 to 2% in 2007, and
it remains the least popular type of housing.
• (180 words)
The bar chart shows different methods of waste disposal in four cities; Toronto,
Madrid, Kuala Lumpur and Amman. Summarize the information by describing the
main features of the chart and making comparisons where appropriate.
• The bar chart depicts four types of waste disposal in four cities. Landfill was
the most popular method of waste disposal in Toronto and Amman. Toronto
used landfill for disposing of about three-quarters of its waste with the
remaining quarter split between incineration, recycling and composting.
• Amman used landfill for disposing of almost half of its waste with most of
the rest being incinerated. Incineration was the most popular method of
waste disposal in Madrid and Kuala Lumpur.
• Kuala Lumpur disposed of more than half its waste by incineration with less
than one quarter going for recycling and even less still going for landfill and
composting. Recycling was the second least popular method of waste
disposal.
• No cities disposed of more than 25% of its waste by recycling and in the case
of Toronto, it was less than 10%. Composting was the least common method
of waste disposal. No cities disposed of more than 10% of its waste by
compositing and Amman hardly did any composting.
• (166 words)
The diagram shows how apple is canned.
• The diagram shows how fresh applet is canned. First the apple is
picked from trees by hand. It is then transported to the cannery by
large trucks. At the cannery the apple is washed and quality
checked, and any poor quality apple is rejected.
• The good quality apple is put into cold storage. When it is ready for
canning the apple is weighted and graded. The grading ensures that
the apple of a similar size is kept together. After this the apple is
peeled and the cores are removed. It is then sliced into the required
sizes and put into cans. Juice or syrup is also added to the cans.
• Once the cans have been filled they are sealed and cooked over
heat to ensure that the cans are sterilized. When the cans are cool,
a label is attached and they are placed into storage. The
canned apple is now ready to be despatched to supermarkets and
sold.
• (158 words)
The flow chart illustrates the consequence of deforestation. Summarise the
information by selecting and reporting the main features.
• The flow chart shows what typically occurs as a consequence of deforestation.
When trees are removed, there are four main immediate effects, which eventually
result in flooding, degraded vegetation and a loss of biodiversity.
• One immediate effect is soil which has been compacted by heavy equipment. The
result hard, ‘baked’ soil contributes to the run off of rain water and, eventually,
flooding.
• Another immediate consequence of logging is a reduction in the number of roots
holding the soil together. This leads to soil erosion. As a consequence, the quality
and variety of vegetation is compromised.
• The third immediate effect is burning, both deliberate and a consequence of an
increased risk of forest fires. The waste that remains after loggings is destroyed and
the microorganisms that feed on this material are lost. This leads to degraded
vegetation.
• The final immediate consequence is a reduction in the amount of moisture plants
return to the air. Because there is less moisture in the air, there is less precipitation
and an increased incidence of drought. This too reduces plant growth and
ultimately results in degraded vegetation and a loss of biodiversity.
• (187 words)
The bar charts below show the Marriage and Divorce Statistics for nine countries in
1981 and 1994.
The diagram below shows the process by which bricks are manufactured for the building
industry.
• The process by which bricks are manufactured for the building industry can be
outlined in seven consecutive steps.
• First the raw material, clay, which was just below the surface of soil in certain clay-
rich areas has to be dug up by a digger.
• Then the lumps of clay are placed on a metal grid in order to break up the big
chunks of clay into much smaller areas, which fall through the metal grid onto a
roller, whose motion further segregates the bits of clay. Sand and water are added
to make a homogenous mixture, which is then either formed in moulds or cut into
brick-shaped pieces by means of a wire cutter.
• Those fresh bricks are then kept in a drying oven for at least 24 and a maximum of
48 hours, several dozen if not hundreds of bricks at a time. The dried bricks are
then transferred to a so-called kiln, another type of high temperature oven. First
they are kept at a moderate temperature of 200C – 1300C. This process is followed
by cooling down the finished bricks for 48 to 72 hours in a cooling chamber.
• Once the bricks have cooled down and have become hard, they get packaged and
delivered to their final destination, be it a building site or storage.
• (217 words)
The diagrams shows how Uranium is used to produce
metals
The diagram shows the life cycle of Nymph Moults.
The diagram shows how milk is produced at a factory.
The diagram shows how a water filter system in a house works.
The diagram shows the difference between an early mobile
phone and a contemporary mobile phone.

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IELTS TASK 1

• Useful introductory expressions:

Useful time expressions:

• One the hardest part of IELTS writing module is writing the

• 1. Identify the main idea behind the graph or

2. Consider the details of what is being shown -

3. Consider the language to use - the

Most of the above expressions can be followed by a clause starting with that.

Several of the above expressions can be followed by a noun or noun phrase.

Several of the above expressions must be followed by a main clause.

• 1. Avoid using the phrase: according to the graph. This is because the

2. The expressions as can be seen from the graph or as is shown/illustrated

3. Avoid using the word presents. It requires a sophisticated summarising

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

In 1995 Austria spent the ........... amount of money on books, while Italy and

However, during this ten-year period, Germany remained the ........... spenders

In contrast, there was a consistent drop in salt consumption. The amount

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,

People’s reasons for using the car in

Commute to work 55%

Leisure activities 15%

Taking children to 40%

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,

Write a report for a university tutor describing the production process.

• The graph ........... (show) how many people ........... (visit) three

shows marked double highest

The bar chart ........... the urbanization percentage of the world in 1950

Overall, this represents a huge increase in the number of humans on the

In 2010 the largest proportion of expenditure was on food whereas in 1950 it

There has been a notable increase in the amount of money spent on

Electricity Generation by Source in Electricity Generation by Source in

Oil supplied the largest percentage of energy, although the percentage

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,

5 Denmark 98 litres 4 Austria 37.3 litres

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