IELTS writing Task 1

The bar chart illustrates the frequency with which Americans ate in fast food establishments from 2003 to 2013. It is clear that the majority of Americans ate in fast food restaurants between once a week and once a month in all three years. We can also see a shift towards eating in these restaurants less frequently by the end of the 10-year period. In each of the years shown on the chart, close to 60% of people in the US ate in fast food restaurants between once and four times a month. Roughly 15 to 20% of Americans reported eating in fast food outlets several times per week, while 3 to 4% of people ate in these outlets daily. At the other end of the scale, around 4% of people avoided fast food restaurants completely. Between 2006 and 2013, the total proportion of Americans who ate in fast food establishments either once a week or several times a week fell by almost 10%. At the same time, there was an increase of around 8% in the ‘once or twice a month’ category. In other words, the weekly fast food habit that was common in 2003 and 2006 became a monthly or twice monthly habit in 2013.

Students' questions Here are some questions about writing task 1, with my answer below each one. 1) Can I write "A glance at the graph shows..." in my overview paragraph? No, I don't recommend using this phrase. It's not normal to use the word "glance" when describing graphs or charts, and it seems strange to me as a native speaker. If you try too hard to use 'original' words, your writing will probably seem forced, unnatural or inappropriate to the examiner. 2) Can I write "the rate of" instead of "the figure for"? In many cases, no you can't. I like the phrase "the figure for" because it can be used instead of "the number of" e.g. "the number of people who live in cities" could be "the figure for people who live in cities". But I wouldn't write "the rate of people who live in cities". You have to be careful with the word "rate" - look it up on Google to find common uses e.g. unemployment rate, birth rate, crime rate, rate of change. Here's my tip: if you're not sure, don't use it. 3) Can we use "the data of" instead of "the number of"? No. I would only use "data" instead of the word "information" e.g. "the chart gives/shows information about..." could be "the chart gives/shows data about...".

The diagrams illustrate some proposed changes to the central area of the town of Islip. It is clear that the principal change to the town will be the construction of a ring road around the centre. Various other developments with regard to shops and housing will accompany the building of this road. Looking at the map of Islip as it is now, we can see that a main road runs through its centre from east to west. The second map shows the planned pedestrianisation of this road. Traffic will be diverted on to a dual carriageway that will form a ring around the town centre. Currently there is a row of shops along either side of the main road. However, it appears that the shops along the north side of the new pedestrian street will be demolished to make way for a bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing area. The shops along the south side of the street will remain, but it seems that the town’s park will be reduced in size so that more new houses can be built within the ring road. (187 words, band 9)

Answer analysis Let's look at a few useful things in the last sample answer. 1) Phrases to begin main paragraphs These phrases aid coherence by telling us what each paragraph is about: 🔸It is clear that... (overview) 🔸Looking first at the older age groups,... 🔸At the other end of the age scale,... 2) Paraphrasing of "attendances at hospital emergency care departments" 🔸visits made to hospital emergency wards 🔸visitors to A&E (accident and emergency) departments 🔸emergency care attendances 🔸attended A&E wards 🔸require emergency treatment 🔸figures for A&E visits 3) Language for comparisons 🔸the most frequent visitors 🔸less than half as likely to 🔸made the fewest visits 🔸almost no difference in the figures for 4) Language for describing changes 🔸there was a slight increase in 🔸and this rose to almost... one year later 🔸rose marginally from... to... 5) Giving the figures 🔸roughly 65 out of every 1000 people 🔸almost 70 attendances per 1000-population 🔸around 30 attendances per 1000-population 🔸from around 50 to approximately 52 per 1000-population 🔸just over 20 per 1000-population 6) Easy verbs, but 'big' noun phrases If you look closely at the answer, you'll see that the verbs are easy (e.g. were, was, rose, attended, made). However, there are lots of big noun phrases (e.g. hospital emergency wards, emergency care attendances, those aged 65 to 74). This is quite typical in IELTS writing task 1 answers.

The overview is key Look at the writing task 1 band descriptors for "task achievement", and you'll see the following points: Band 5 = no clear overview Band 6 = presents an overview Band 7 = presents a clear overview So, if you want a high score, your overview needs to be good. This is why I recommend a separate overview paragraph with two sentences. Look at the bar chart above, and try writing a 2-sentence overview: - One sentence that compares the two months (the blue and green bars). - One sentence describing the overall trend by age group.

The bar chart compares the number of visits made by people in six age categories to hospital emergency wards in Northern Ireland in the December of 2016 and 2017. It is clear that elderly people and the youngest children were the most frequent visitors to A&E (accident and emergency) departments. Also, there was a slight increase in the rate of emergency care attendances among all six age groups from December 2016 to December 2017. Looking first at the older age groups, roughly 65 people, per 1000 population, aged 75 and over attended A&E wards in December 2016, and this rose to almost 70 attendances per 1000-population one year later. Interestingly, those aged 65 to 74 were less than half as likely to require emergency treatment, with around 30 attendances per 1000-population in both months. At the other end of the age scale, the figures for A&E visits by under-5s rose marginally from around 50 to approximately 52 per 1000-population over the one-year period. Children aged 5 to 15 made the fewest visits, at just over 20 per 1000-population in both months. Finally, there was almost no difference in the figures for emergency care attendances among people aged 16 to 44, 45 to 64 and 65 to 74. (217 words, band 9)

The line graph compares three types of traveller to New Zealand between 1997 and 2017 in terms of their average daily expenditure. It is noticeable that spending by these international visitors was at its highest between the years 2000 and 2003. Overall, business travellers spent the most per day, while people visiting friends or relatives spent the least. In 1997, business visitors to New Zealand spent an average of almost $260 per day, while holidaymakers spent around $190 and people visiting friends or relatives spent less than $120. Over the following five years, spending by all three types of traveller increased dramatically, to peaks of around $330, $270 and $220. However, visitor spending suddenly fell again between 2003 and 2005. From 2005 to 2015, the daily expenditure of business travellers and tourists fluctuated around the $200 mark, whereas people visiting relations or friends spent roughly 60 to 80 dollars less per day. By 2017, daily spending had risen to approximately $250, $210 and $140 respectively for vacationers, business people and those visiting loved ones. (174 words)

Two things about the overview 1) Are two points always enough for the overview? Can we add a third point? I believe that it's best to stick to just two main or general points, even if you can see other general trends that could be mentioned. Here are four reasons: First, I would rather describe two things well and then move on to the details. Second, I think the overview loses its impact if it becomes too long - it stops being a summary. Third, one of the requirements of task 1 is that you "select" information; you are not expected to describe everything. Finally, I like to have a method and stick to it, so I know what to do without having to think too much. 2) Is it better to put the overview after the introduction or at the end of the report? Both positions are fine. However, I prefer to write the overview straight after the introduction for two reasons: First, I find it easier to describe general information before looking at specific details. Second, I know that the overview is very important. If you want a good score, you need to take the time to write a good overview; when people write the overview at the end, they often find themselves rushing and they do a bad job!

The bar chart shows the percentage of waste that is recycled, put into landfill or incinerated in various EU countries. If we look at the fifteen EU countries as a whole, it is clear that more waste goes to landfill sites than to any other refuse management facility. In fact, while around half of the countries put the majority of their waste into landfill sites, only two countries recycle at least 50% of the waste that they produce. Austria and Belgium are the most environmentally friendly of the fifteen countries, recycling around 60% and 50% of their waste respectively. Germany, Sweden and Belgium also appear to have effective recycling programmes, resulting in roughly 40% of waste being processed in this way in each country. Other EU countries recycle far less. Greece, Ireland and the UK, for example, only recycle around 10% of refuse, and put between 80 and 90 per cent of their waste into landfill. Finally, while most non-recycled waste in the EU area goes to landfill, four countries, namely Luxembourg, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark, incinerate more waste than they bury. (184 words, band 9)

The diagrams illustrate the stages in the life of a silkworm and the process of producing silk cloth. There are four main stages in the life cycle of the silkworm, from eggs to adult moth. The process of silk cloth production involves six steps, from silkworm cocoon to silk material. At the first stage in the life cycle of a silkworm, the moth lays its eggs. Around ten days later, silkworm larvae hatch from the eggs; these larvae feed on mulberry leaves. Then, after four to six weeks, the larvae become covered in silk thread, and it takes between three and eight days for a full cocoon to be produced. For silk cloth production, a cocoon is first selected and then boiled in water. After boiling, the silk thread that makes up the cocoon is unwound, and then several strands of thread are twisted together. At the fifth and sixth stages in the process, the thread can either be dyed and then woven into silk fabric, or it can be woven first and then dyed subsequently. (176 words, band 9)

Paraphrases show = give information about public in the US = US residents, Americans, those surveyed reasons for travel = why... travelled, trips were for the purpose of, for... reasons, was cited as the reason for... , accounted for... travel to and from work = to commute, commuting price = cost main issue(s) = problems, primary concern, key consideration, foremost concern, most important issue

The bar chart and pie chart give information about why US residents travelled and what travel problems they experienced in the year 2009. It is clear that the principal reason why Americans travelled in 2009 was to commute to and from work. In the same year, the primary concern of Americans, with regard to the trips they made, was the cost of travelling. Looking more closely at the bar chart, we can see that 49% of the trips made by Americans in 2009 were for the purpose of commuting. By contrast, only 6% of trips were visits to friends or relatives, and one in ten trips were for social or recreation reasons. Shopping was cited as the reason for 16% of all travel, while unspecific ‘personal reasons’ accounted for the remaining 19%. According to the pie chart, price was the key consideration for 36% of American travellers. Almost one in five people cited safety as their foremost travel concern, while aggressive driving and highway congestion were the main issues for 17% and 14% of the travelling public. Finally, a total of 14% of those surveyed thought that access to public transport or space for pedestrians were the most important travel issues. (201 words, band 9)