IELTS Writing Task 1 - Sample 7 (Pie Chart)

 You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task.

Look at the figures for the proportion of people involved in agriculture, as shown in the pie charts below.

(Model answer from an actual Nepalese student)

The pie charts compare the percentage of agricultural workers in developed and developing countries in 1950, 1990 and 2025. Basically, the figures show that developed countries always have lesser proportion of people engaged in agriculture than developing countries and with time the proportion decreases for both (countries).

In 1950's, a large percentage of people, i.e. 81.1%, in developing countries were engaged in agriculture. After 40 years in 1990, the figure dropped to 59.6% and it is estimated that the numbers will continue to fall. In fact, the percentage may decline to 37% in 2025. 

The trend is same for developed countries. In 1950's more than 1/3 of the population was involved in agriculture but by 1990's, the proportion dropped by almost 4 times to 8.4%. The proportion has been estimated to slump to 2% by 2025. This decrease in agricultural workers might decline the agricultural productivity. On the second thought, if technology does replace the labourers the rate of unemployment will increase.

Corrected Version

The pie charts compare the percentage of agricultural workers in developed and developing countries in 1950, 1990 and predicts for 2025. The figures show that developed countries always have a lesser proportion of people engaged in agriculture than in developing countries and with time the proportion decreases for both country areas.

In 1950, a large percentage of people, i.e. 81.1%, in developing countries were engaged in agriculture. After 40 years, the figure dropped to 59.6% and it is estimated that the numbers will continue to fall. In fact, the percentage may decline to 37% in 2025.

The trend is the same for developed countries. In 1950, more than one third of the population was involved in agriculture, which matches the forecast for developing countries in 2025. By 1990, the proportion dropped by almost 4 times to 8.4% and the proportion has been estimated to slump to 2% by 2025. 

(150 words) 

Note: Last 2 sentences were removed as they are the writer's opinion which is not part of the task.

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 6 (Strong and Weak answer samples and assessment).

 The graph below gives information about changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand between 1901 and 2101.

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

Write at least 150 words.

Sample A

The graph gives information about changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand between 1901 and 2101.

In 1901 the birth rate was 20,000 and the death rate was 9,000. In 1961 the birth rate reached a peak of 66,000 while the death rate was 23,000. In 2001 there were 55,000 births and 38,000 deaths, and in 2061 there were 60,000 deaths and 48,000 births.

At the end of the period there were 58,000 deaths and 45,000 births.

Both the births and death rates changed between 1901 and 2101. Perhaps this was because a lot of people did not want to have children.

(105 words)

Assessment

This is a weak answer which would score a low IELTS band. Problems.

• under length.
• introduction is copied from task
• no comparison between figures
• no focus on general trends
• no reference to the future (see projection on graph)
• conclusion tried to explain information rather than summarise it
• poor linking of ideas (only done by time markers)
• limited range of grammar and vocabulary. 

Sample B

The graph shows changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand since 1901, and forecasts trends up until 2101. It can be seen that the death rate will probably overtake the birth rate in around 2041 and the large gap between the two levels will increase with time.

Between 1901 and the present day, the birth rate has been consistently higher than the death rate. It stood at 20,000 at the start of this period and increased to a peak of 66,000 in 1961. Since then the rate has fluctuated between 65 and 50 thousand and it is expected to decline slowly to around 45,000 births by the end of century.

In contrast, the death rate started below 10,000 and has increased steadily until the present time. This increase is expected to be more rapid between 2021 and 2051 when the rate will probably level off around 60,000, before dropping slightly in 2101.

(166 words)

Assessment
This is a strong answer which would score a high IELTS band. Good points.

• fulfils criteria for length
• introduction is paraphrased
• main sets of data are compared and contrasted
• clear focus on the different trends
• important features of the graph, (e.g. cross-over point) included
• information summarised in conclusion
• well organised information
• range of linkers and referencing expressions
• good range of vocabulary and structures, used accurately
  

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 5 (Model Answer with guidelines).

The chart below shows the different levels of post-school qualifications in Australia and the proportion of men and women who held them in 1999.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

 

This is the model answer provided by teacher at RTC ENGLISH with guidelines.

1.  Re-Write / rephrase the title/task (try to make it simpler and more straightforward.
   The bar chart compares the levels of qualifications that are available in Australia after school and the percentages of male and female students who studied for those qualifications in 1999.
   
   
2. Identify the main points described by the data ( look for a pattern in the data and describe it).
   Overall, men obtained more qualifications than females. In addition, more women than men studied at the undergraduate level and a far higher proportion of men obtained post-graduate level credentials.
   
   
3. Describe the data in a clear and organised way (are you describing change or difference - in this case a difference but in the past tense).
   Far more males studied for a vocational diploma, 90%, while only one in ten students was female, 10%.
   Undergraduate diplomas and degrees were more popular with women. Twice as many women, over 70%, studied for an undergraduate diploma than men. The difference was less significant at the degree level, where over 50% were female and just below 50% for males.
   
   The majority of post-graduate students were men. 70% of post-graduate diploma students were male, more than twice as many as women, and 60% of Master's degree students were men and 40% were female.
   
   
4. Write at least 150 words.
   152 words

IELTS Writing Task 1- Sample 4

The graph shows typical levels in enthusiasm, confidence and ability of students attending a ten-week IELTS course. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.

Here's my answer with teacher's feedback.