IELTS Writing Task 1
Graphs with Trends
Dr. Miri
Iran National Language Institution
Writing Task 1
1. Candidates doing the Academic test will write a report on a data set, map, or process.
2. Candidates doing General Training will write a letter.
3. You must write 150 words or more.
4. You should spend around 20 minutes on this part of the test.
5. Task 2 is worth 1/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
6. You will be assessed in four areas:
1. Task Achievement (25%)
2. Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
3. Lexical Resource (25%)
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)
7. The most important thing is that you can demonstrate that you can clearly
communicate in English.
8. The key to doing well is to know exactly what the examiners want and giving it to
them.
Academic Writing Task 1 in 5 Easy
Steps
Understanding the marking criteria
Paraphrase the question
Write an overview
Support overview with detail
Check your work
Marking Criteria
Task Achievement
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Task Achievement
You will get a higher score if you:
Select the main/key features of the graph, chart, map
or process.
Write a clear overview that includes the main/key
features (main trends, differences, stages etc.) of the
graph, chart, map or process.
Support them with accurate detail.
Write at least 150 words.
Paraphrase Question
Paraphrasing is when we rewrite phrase or sentence so
that it has different words but keeps the same meaning.
We can do this in a number of different ways, but the
simplest way is to use synonyms.
Overview
The most important paragraph in the whole essay and it
is impossible to get a high score if you don’t write a
good one.
We need to provide a short summary of the main
features. You do this in the overview paragraph by
picking out 3-4 of the most significant things you can
see and writing them in general terms.
By general, I mean you do not support anything you see
with data from the graph or chart, just write about
what you can see at first glance.
Support Overview with Detail
The main features are reported in the overview and now
we must take each of those features and describe them
in more detail.
Check Your Work
Check spelling and punctuation
Check verb tenses. Are they the correct tense?
Check accuracy of the data used.
Check vocabulary. Is there any repetition we could remove with
synonyms?
Check paragraphing.
Check word limit. Over 150?
Task types
Graphs with trends
Task types
Comparative graph
Task types
Process and cycle
Task types
Maps
How to write graphs with trends
. در ابتدا سوال را به دقت بخوانید
. عنوان نمودار و نمودار را بررسی کنید که آیا در مورد درصد است یا اعداد
. موارد زیر را در نمودار مشخص کنید
Beginning numbers
Ending numbers
Highest points
Lowest points
Data series that overtake other ones
Period of fluctuation, stability
Sudden changes of increase or decrease
.4جاهای حساس تسک را شناسایی کنید.
.5خالصه ی کلی نمودار که شامل یک یا دو نکته است را پیدا کنید.
.6 داده ها را دسته بندی کنید .کدام دسته در پاراگراف دوم می آید و مابقی در
بعد.
.7 حتما زبان تغییر ( ) increase/decrease/stability/fluctuation
را یاد بگیریم.
.8 با استفاده از بدل و جمله واره های قیدی سعی کنیم تنوع گرامری بیشتر
داشته باشیم.
.8 حتما حروف اضافه را تمرین کنیم.
Introduction
The line graph Shows Information
The bar chart Illustrates about
The table Provides Data
How much Over a 10 year period
How many
The amount of…… who From___to____
The number of …… which
How to write graphs with
trends
Overview
1) Overall, What stands out from the graph is that…….,
There was(were) an upward trend in ……,
While ………. fell significantly/slightly over (the
period in question)
Another interesting point is that …… was
the most popular ……… at the beginning, whereas
…..became number one in (year)
How to write graphs with
trends
Body 1
Looking at the details, as regards
regarding,
as for
Body 2
By contrast, if we look at
in terms of …,
with respect to
upward downward adverbs to adverbs to how to
trend verbs trend verbs describe big describe describe no
changes small change
changes
to increase to decrease dramatically gradually remained
to rise to fall sharply slightly the same
to go up to go down suddenly steadily remained
to climb to decline significantly gently constant
to shoot up to drop drastically moderatley stabilised
to rocket to plunge noticeably little by levelled off
to soar to plummet steeply little moderatley
step by step little by
little
step by step
Sample answer
The graph below gives information from a 2008 report about consumption
of energy in the USA since 1980 with projections until 2030. Summarize
the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and making
comparisons where relevant.
Sample answer
The line graph shows energy consumption by fuel type in the United States from
1980-2008, with projected use until 2030.
Overall, fossil fuels have been the dominant type and will continue this trend into the
future. Nuclear and renewable energy sources have represented a small but
significant proportion of total energy use and despite small projected gains; it is
projected that they will continue doing so.
Petrol and Oil command the biggest share with 35 quadrillion units (35q) in 1980,
rising to approximately 40q in 2008 and this trend is set to continue with a projected
value of nearly 50q in 2030. In 1980 natural gas and coal came in second and third,
with around 16q and 20q respectively. However, coal overtook natural gas in 1990
and despite some fluctuation, is set to be the second most used fuel in 2030 with just
over 30q. It is predicted that natural gas will level off and remain relatively constant
at about 25q.
Nuclear and the renewable energies all represented around 4q in 1980 and fluctuated
up until 2008. It is speculated that nuclear energy will reach 10q by 2030 and
solar/wind around 5q, with hydropower dropping and then remaining constant at
approximately 2q.
The line graph below shows the number of cell phone subscribers in a
particular city, by gender.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main
features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Given is a graph indicating the number of men and women who paid
for cell phone service from 1995 to 2015. Overall, it is evident from
the provided information that whilst the number of both male and
female subscribers rose significantly, it increased more for men.
During the time bracket, the number of male cell phone subscribers
soared up noticeably. In 1995, just over 500 men subscribed to cell
phone service, but the number increased considerably over the
next few years until it reached 2500 in the year 2005. The number
of subscribers remained stable between 1995 and 2005. Then this
number rose slightly between 2010 and 2015, reaching 2750.
Likewise, the number of women subscribing to cell phone service
rose in most years between 1995 and 2015. In 1995, just 500
women subscribed to cell phone service. By 2005, the number of
female subscribers had increased to 2500. There was a slight drop
to about 2250 subscribers between 2005 and 2010, and that number
stayed steady between 2010 and 2015.
The graph below compares the changes in the birth rates of
China and the USA between 1920 and 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main
features and make comparisons where relevant.
The graph demonstrated some striking similarities between
the Chinese and the US birth rates from 1920 to 2000. Both
countries experienced considerable fluctuations in the
similar period with some lows during the 1940s and some
highs during the 1930s.
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Speaking Class
Iran National Language Institution
Dr. Miri
Note that the materials have been compiled not developed.
Task 2
Describe a time you saw a rare or endangered animal.
You should say:
what type of animal you saw
where you saw the animal
what the animal looked like and how it behaved
and explain how seeing this animal made you feel.
Some people believe that it is wrong to keep animals in
zoos, while others think that zoos are both entertaining
and ecologically important. Discuss both views.
Positives of keeping animals in zoos
Environmental perspective: Zoos play an important role
in wildlife conservation. They help to protect endangered
species. They allow scientists to study animal behaviour.
Economic perspective: Zoos employ large numbers of
people. They provide job opportunities and income for the
local area. The money raised can be used for conservation
projects.
Personal perspective: Zoos are interesting, educational
and fun. They make a great day out for families. Children
learn to appreciate wildlife and nature.
Negatives of zoos:
Environmental perspective: Zoos are
artificial environments. Animals lose their
instinct to hunt for food. It would be better to
save endangered species by protecting their
natural habitats.
Moral perspective: Keeping animals in cages
is unethical. We have no right to use animals
for entertainment. Zoos exhibit animals with
the aim of making a profit.
Some people think that zoos are all cruel and should
be closed down. Others however believe that zoos
can be useful in protecting wild animals.
Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Zoos remain popular places for people to visit for
entertainment and to learn about wild animals. Although
some people are of the opinion that zoos can provide a
sanctuary for endangered animals and so should be kept
open, I believe that the cruelty that animals suffer
outweighs this benefit, and that they should be shut down.
These days, animals are under threat from humans in many
ways, seen for example in the way that their habitats are
being destroyed through the cutting down of rain forests, or
through poaching. Following on from this, the argument is
that zoos can protect some of these animals who are under
threat. The reason is that they are in a safe environment
managed by trained staff who can ensure the animals are
looked after and can produce offspring. There are examples
of successes in this respect, such as with Pandas who have
been endangered for many years but have been protected.
However, zoo could be irritating for many animals and
birds, especially when they are brought from their natural
habitat to an artificial one, only to meet the “purpose”.
Even more, often kids are very rude to animals ;teasing or
throwing things at them, this adds up to their frustration.
Even more, although often it is not allowed to take
pictures, people do take. The camera flashes tends to
irritate the animals. In addition, with coming of internet,
children can understand and see the animal life, on it.
Overall, zoo do serve a purpose but the downsides of having
one, exceed the need of zoo. In my opinion, since the
animal life is slowly moving towards extinction, more and
more steps to keep them mentally and physically fit must
be taken.
Zoo has no useful purpose.
Do you agree or disagree with the statement?
Keeping wild animals in cages for public exhibition is a
tradition that people are performing for a long and for
majority people this is an amusement and educational
purpose for kids while others think it to be a very inhuman
act. In recent times, the importance and reason for zoo has
been put into scrutiny.
The most important use of zoo is for education. A child can
obviously not go to the jungle to understand the animal
life, however, it is very easy for him/her to observe
animals closely in zoo. Secondly, it is a great help for
animals that go stray. It is often seen that animals like
monkey or tigers lose their way and enter into cities. Zoo
provides them with an atmosphere like their natural
habitat, and also the safety.
However, there are more convincing arguments for why
zoos should be shut down. Firstly, even though some
species are under threat, there are lots of animals who
do not fall into this category and who are there just for
the entertainment of visitors. While it may be fun and
educational to see them, animals are not meant to be
caged, and their distress can often be seen in the way
many of them pace back and forwards all day. Not only
this, if the prime reason of zoos is to protect animals,
this could be done in other environments such as wild life
parks where the animals have more freedom.
In conclusion, animals should be protected but this does
not have to be in zoos. Zoos are cruel to animals, not
similar enough to their natural habitat, and they should
be closed down.
There is some interesting vocabulary and phrases. For
example:
sanctuary for endangered animals
under threat from humans
habitats are being destroyed
poaching
produce offspring
successes in this respect
not meant to be caged
natural habitat
There are also some good complex grammatical constructions and the
grammar is precise. For example, the red words show that some of
these are adverbial clauses, noun clauses and relative clauses:
Although some people are of the opinion that zoos can provide a
sanctuary for endangered animals...
...seen for example in the way that their habitats are being
destroyed...
...the argument is that zoos can protect some of these animals who are
under threat.
...trained staff who can ensure the animals are looked after...
Pandas who have been endangered...
...even though some species are under threat...
...While it may be fun and educational...
Keeping animals in captivity is cruel. There is no reason
for zoos to exist in the 21st century.
There are many people who question the existence of zoos in the
21st of century. In their opinion, keeping animals in captivity is
unethical. While I do agree with this view, I do not think that zoos
should be abolished.
In spite of all the arguments against the existence of zoos, the truth is
that they still benefit both humans and animals. Zoos provide
education. They give us an opportunity to observe wild animals from
close quarters and learn about their behavior. Another very important
benefit of maintaining zoos is that they save many endangered species
from extinction. Zoos provide them with a safe environment where
they can live and reproduce. Without zoos many exotic species of
animals would have disappeared from earth.
The argument against the existence of zoos stems from the fact that
they ill-treat animals. That is true to a certain extent. In many zoos,
animals are kept in small enclosures where they cannot even move
about. Such zoos exist with the sole purpose of making money by
exploiting animals. In my opinion, such establishments should be
closed down as we have no right to use or exploit other forms of life
for our benefit.
Having said that, there are also zoos that allow animals
to live in protected environments that are closer to the
wilderness. Animals living in such zoos do enjoy some
amount of freedom. They might even be able to hunt
small animals that the zoo authorities throw into their
‘territories’. Life in such zoos actually benefits these
animals because they are safe from poachers who might
otherwise have killed them for them skin, teeth or
tusks.
To conclude, when we consider the benefits of zoos, it
is not hard to see that the argument against their
existence does not hold water. Zoos do protect animals.
Instead of abolishing them, what we need to do is to
make them more animal friendly.
Some people think that man-made Zoos should not exist in
the 21st century. Do you agree or disagree?
There are several arguments against confining animals to
cages and other small enclosures just for the sake of
keeping human visitors entertained. Animal rights
activists have always insisted that zoos should be
banned. I certainly agree with this view.
It is true that zoos provide education and entertainment.
Both children and adults enjoy visiting zoos because they
provide an opportunity to see wild animals without
having to go the jungle. After all, not everybody can go
on an African safari to see lions, rhinoceros or
hippopotamuses. But this is hardly a justification for
keeping animals in zoos. Man has no right to capture
them and imprison them in small enclosures.
Wild animals thrive in the wilderness. Any attempt to remove
them from their natural habitat for keeping people entertained
is unethical. Instead of building zoos, the government should
develop wild life sanctuaries and national parks. The general
public interested in seeing animals can go on guided jungle
safaris. The thrill that one experiences when one sees a lion or
tiger in the jungle cannot be explained in words. Zoos do not
provide that kind of excitement or adrenaline rush.
Zoos do not help animals in any way. Yes, there are people who
believe that zoos are required to protect endangered animals
and birds; however, I don’t think that this argument holds
water. When African wild animals are brought to zoos in India
or Europe, they have to struggle hard to adapt to the different
climate and ecosystem.
To conclude, I certainly agree with the view that zoos should
not exist in this century. It is true that they provide some
entertainment, but we have absolutely no right to confine
animals to small enclosures for our amusement.
What effects do you think humans have on wild
animals?
Humans have a huge impact on wild animals. We
have destroyed a lot of natural habitats, and many
animals are in danger of extinction. Tigers and rhinos,
for example, are endangered species because of humans.
The pollution and waste that we produce also have an
effect on animals. In some places there are no fish in the
rivers.
What measures could we take to protect wildlife?
I think we need stricter rules to protect natural areas and
the wild animals that live there. For example, we should
stop cutting down trees in the rain forest. National parks
are a good idea because they attract tourists while
protecting wildlife.
Is it the responsibility of schools to teach children about
protecting wildlife?
Yes, schools can play a big part in educating children
about this issue. Children should learn how to look after
the natural environment. I think schools already teach
children about endangered species and the destruction of
rain forests, so hopefully future generations will do a
better job of protecting wildlife.
