The bar graph shows the global sales (in billions of dollars) of different

types of digital games between 2000 and 2006.

IELTS Writing Task 1: bar chart essay

The bar chart compares the turnover in dollars from sales of video games for
four different platforms, namely mobile phones, online, consoles and
handheld devices, from 2000 to 2006.

It is clear that sales of games for three out of the four platforms rose each
year, leading to a significant rise in total global turnover over the 7-year
period. Sales figures for handheld games were at least twice as high as those
for any other platform in almost every year.

In 2000, worldwide sales of handheld games stood at around $11 billion, while
console games earned just under $6 billion. No figures are given for mobile or
online games in that year. Over the next 3 years, sales of handheld video
games rose by about $4 billion, but the figure for consoles decreased by $2
billion. Mobile phone and online games started to become popular, with sales
reaching around $3 billion in 2003.

In 2006, sales of handheld, online and mobile games reached peaks of 17, 9
and 7 billion dollars respectively. By contrast, turnover from console games
dropped to its lowest point, at around $2.5 billion.
The graph below shows trends in US meat and poultry consumption.

The line graph shows changes in the per capita consumption of beef, pork,
broilers and turkey in the United States between 1955 and 2012.

Between 1955 and 1976, US beef consumption rose from around 60 to a

peak of 90 pounds per person per year. During the same period, consumption
of broilers also rose, to nearly 30 pounds per person, while the figures for pork
fluctuated between 50 and 40 pounds per person. Turkey was by far the least
popular meat, with figures below 10 pounds per capita each year.

By 2012, the amount of beef consumed by the average American had

plummeted to around 50 pounds, but the consumption of broilers had doubled
since the 1970s, to approximately 55 pounds per capita. By contrast, there
were no significant changes in the trends for pork and turkey consumption
over the period as a whole.

It is noticeable that beef was by far the most popular of the four types of meat
for the majority of the 57-year period. However, a considerable rise can be
seen in the consumption of broilers, with figures eventually surpassing those
for beef.
IELTS Writing Task 1: flow chart essay
The chart below shows the process of waste paper recycling.

The flow chart shows how waste paper is recycled. It is clear that there are six
distinct stages in this process, from the initial collection of waste paper to the
eventual production of usable paper.

At the first stage in the paper recycling process, waste paper is collected
either from paper banks, where members of the public leave their used paper,
or directly from businesses. This paper is then sorted by hand and separated
according to its grade, with any paper that is not suitable for recycling being
removed. Next, the graded paper is transported to a paper mill.

Stages four and five of the process both involve cleaning. The paper is
cleaned and pulped, and foreign objects such as staples are taken out.
Following this, all remnants of ink and glue are removed from the paper at the
de-inking stage. Finally, the pulp can be processed in a paper making
machine, which makes the end product: usable paper.

(160 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: stacked bar chart essay
The chart below shows the total number of Olympic medals won by
twelve different countries.

The bar chart compares twelve countries in terms of the overall number of
medals that they have won at the Olympic Games.

It is clear that the USA is by far the most successful Olympic medal winning
nation. It is also noticeable that the figures for gold, silver and bronze medals
won by any particular country tend to be fairly similar.

The USA has won a total of around 2,300 Olympic medals, including
approximately 900 gold medals, 750 silver and 650 bronze. In second place
on the all-time medals chart is the Soviet Union, with just over 1,000 medals.
Again, the number of gold medals won by this country is slightly higher than
the number of silver or bronze medals.

Only four other countries - the UK, France, Germany and Italy - have won
more than 500 Olympic medals, all with similar proportions of each medal
colour. Apart from the USA and the Soviet Union, China is the only other
country with a noticeably higher proportion of gold medals (about 200)
compared to silver and bronze (about 100 each).

(178 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: mobile phones essay
Here's my full essay about the table in last week's lesson:

The table compares the percentages of people using different functions of

their mobile phones between 2006 and 2010.

Throughout the period shown, the main reason why people used their mobile
phones was to make calls. However, there was a marked increase in the
popularity of other mobile phone features, particularly the Internet search
feature.

In 2006, 100% of mobile phone owners used their phones to make calls, while
the next most popular functions were text messaging (73%) and taking photos
(66%). By contrast, less than 20% of owners played games or music on their
phones, and there were no figures for users doing Internet searches or
recording video.

Over the following 4 years, there was relatively little change in the figures for
the top three mobile phone features. However, the percentage of people using
their phones to access the Internet jumped to 41% in 2008 and then to 73% in
2010. There was also a significant rise in the use of mobiles to play games
and to record video, with figures reaching 41% and 35% respectively in 2010.
IELTS Writing Task 1: maps essay

The diagrams illustrate some changes to a small island which has been
developed for tourism.

It is clear that the island has changed considerably with the introduction of
tourism, and six new features can be seen in the second diagram. The main
developments are that the island is accessible and visitors have somewhere
to stay.

Looking at the maps in more detail, we can see that small huts have been
built to accommodate visitors to the island. The other physical structures that
have been added are a reception building, in the middle of the island, and a
restaurant to the north of the reception. Before these developments, the island
was completely bare apart from a few trees.

As well as the buildings mentioned above, the new facilities on the island
include a pier, where boats can dock. There is also a short road linking the
pier with the reception and restaurant, and footpaths connect the huts. Finally,
there is a designated swimming area for tourists off a beach on the western
tip of the island.
(175 words, band 9)
IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay
The graph below shows the average number of UK commuters travelling
each day by car, bus or train between 1970 and 2030.

Here's the essay I wrote with my students' help:

The line graph compares figures for daily travel by workers in the UK using
three different forms of transport over a period of 60 years.

It is clear that the car is by far the most popular means of transport for UK
commuters throughout the period shown. Also, while the numbers of people
who use the car and train increase gradually, the number of bus users falls
steadily.

In 1970, around 5 million UK commuters travelled by car on a daily basis,

while the bus and train were used by about 4 million and 2 million people
respectively. In the year 2000, the number of those driving to work rose to 7
million and the number of commuting rail passengers reached 3 million.
However, there was a small drop of approximately 0.5 million in the number of
bus users.

By 2030, the number of people who commute by car is expected to reach

almost 9 million, and the number of train users is also predicted to rise, to
nearly 5 million. By contrast, buses are predicted to become a less popular
choice, with only 3 million daily users.
IELTS Writing Task 1: pie charts essay
The pie charts compare the expenditure of a school in the UK in three
different years over a 20-year period.

It is clear that teachers’ salaries made up the largest proportion of the school’s
spending in all three years (1981, 1991 and 2001). By contrast, insurance was
the smallest cost in each year.

In 1981, 40% of the school’s budget went on teachers’ salaries. This figure
rose to 50% in 1991, but fell again by 5% in 2001. The proportion of spending
on other workers’ wages fell steadily over the 20-year period, from 28% of the
budget in 1981 to only 15% in 2001.

Expenditure on insurance stood at only 2% of the total in 1981, but reached

8% in 2001. Finally, the percentages for resources and furniture/equipment
fluctuated. The figure for resources was highest in 1991, at 20%, and the
proportion of spending on furniture and equipment reached its peak in 2001,
at 23%.

(158 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: line graph essay

Here's my full essay using last week's ideas:

The line graph compares average yearly spending by Americans on mobile

and landline phone services from 2001 to 2010.
It is clear that spending on landline phones fell steadily over the 10-year
period, while mobile phone expenditure rose quickly. The year 2006 marks
the point at which expenditure on mobile services overtook that for residential
phone services.

In 2001, US consumers spent an average of nearly $700 on residential phone

services, compared to only around $200 on cell phone services. Over the
following five years, average yearly spending on landlines dropped by nearly
$200. By contrast, expenditure on mobiles rose by approximately $300.

In the year 2006, the average American paid out the same amount of money
on both types of phone service, spending just over $500 on each. By 2010,
expenditure on mobile phones had reached around $750, while the figure for
spending on residential services had fallen to just over half this amount.

(162 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: life cycle essay
Here's my full essay for the life cycle question:

The diagram illustrates the various stages in the life of a honey bee. We can
see that the complete life cycle lasts between 34 and 36 days. It is also
noticeable that there are five main stages in the development of the honey
bee, from egg to mature adult insect.

The life cycle of the honey bee begins when the female adult lays an egg; the
female typically lays one or two eggs every 3 days. Between 9 and 10 days
later, each egg hatches and the immature insect, or nymph, appears.

During the third stage of the life cycle, the nymph grows in size and sheds its
skin three times. This moulting first takes place 5 days after the egg hatches,
then 7 days later, and again another 9 days later. After a total of 30 to 31 days
from the start of the cycle, the young adult honey bee emerges from its final
moulting stage, and in the space of only 4 days it reaches full maturity.

(169 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: climate essay
The climograph below shows average monthly temperatures and rainfall
in the city of Kolkata.

The chart compares average figures for temperature and precipitation over
the course of a calendar year in Kolkata.

It is noticeable that monthly figures for precipitation in Kolkata vary

considerably, whereas monthly temperatures remain relatively stable. Rainfall
is highest from July to August, while temperatures are highest in April and
May.

Between the months of January and May, average temperatures in Kolkata

rise from their lowest point at around 20°C to a peak of just over 30°C.
Average rainfall in the city also rises over the same period, from
approximately 20mm of rain in January to 100mm in May.

While temperatures stay roughly the same for the next four months, the
amount of rainfall is more than doubles between May and June. Figures for
precipitation remain above 250mm from June to September, peaking at
around 330mm in July. The final three months of the year see a dramatic fall
in precipitation, to a low of about 10mm in December, and a steady drop in
temperatures back to the January average.
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 bar charts compare students of different ages in terms of why they are
studying and whether they are supported by an employer.

It is clear that the proportion of students who study for career purposes is far
higher among the younger age groups, while the oldest students are more
likely to study for interest. Employer support is more commonly given to
younger students.

Around 80% of students aged under 26 study to further their careers, whereas
only 10% study purely out of interest. The gap between these two proportions
narrows as students get older, and the figures for those in their forties are the
same, at about 40%. Students aged over 49 overwhelmingly study for interest
(70%) rather than for professional reasons (less than 20%).

Just over 60% of students aged under 26 are supported by their employers.
By contrast, the 30-39 age group is the most self-sufficient, with only 30%
being given time off and help with fees. The figures rise slightly for students in
their forties and for those aged 50 or more.

(178 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'chart without years' essay
The chart below shows numbers of incidents and injuries per 100 million
passenger miles travelled (PMT) by transportation type in 2002.

The bar chart compares the number of incidents and injuries for every 100
million passenger miles travelled on five different types of public transport in
2002.

It is clear that the most incidents and injuries took place on demand-response
vehicles. By contrast, commuter rail services recorded by far the lowest
figures.

A total of 225 incidents and 173 injuries, per 100 million passenger miles
travelled, took place on demand-response transport services. These figures
were nearly three times as high as those for the second highest category, bus
services. There were 76 incidents and 66 people were injured on buses.

Rail services experienced fewer problems. The number of incidents on light

rail trains equaled the figure recorded for buses, but there were significantly
fewer injuries, at only 39. Heavy rail services saw lower numbers of such
events than light rail services, but commuter rail passengers were even less
likely to experience problems. In fact, only 20 incidents and 17 injuries
occurred on commuter trains.

IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay

The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and
over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.

The line graph compares the percentage of people aged 65 or more in three
countries over a period of 100 years.

It is clear that the proportion of elderly people increases in each country

between 1940 and 2040. Japan is expected to see the most dramatic
changes in its elderly population.

In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 or over, compared to about

7% of Swedish people and 5% of Japanese people. The proportions of elderly
people in the USA and Sweden rose gradually over the next 50 years,
reaching just under 15% in 1990. By contrast, the figures for Japan remained
below 5% until the early 2000s.

Looking into the future, a sudden increase in the percentage of elderly people
is predicted for Japan, with a jump of over 15% in just 10 years from 2030 to
2040. By 2040, it is thought that around 27% of the Japanese population will
be 65 years old or more, while the figures for Sweden and the USA will be
slightly lower, at about 25% and 23% respectively.

(178 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'process diagram'
The diagram below shows how coffee is produced and prepared for sale
in supermarkets and shops.
The picture illustrates the process of coffee manufacture and preparation for
sale on the market.

It is clear that there are 11 stages in the production of coffee. The process
begins with the picking of coffee beans, and ends at the packing stage.

Looking at the coffee production process in detail, coffee beans must first be
picked in the fields. These beans are then dried, roasted, and cooled before
being put in a grinding machine, which turns the beans into coffee granules.

At the sixth stage in the process, the ground coffee is mixed with hot water,
and the resulting mixture is strained. Next, the mixture is frozen and then
passed once again through the grinder. After that, the ground, frozen liquid is
dried in a vacuum so that the water evaporates, leaving the coffee granules.
Finally, these granules are packed into coffee jars for delivery to shops.
IELTS Writing Task 1: 'table' essay
The table below gives information on consumer spending on different
items in five different countries in 2002.

Percentage of national consumer expenditure by category - 2002

The table shows percentages of consumer expenditure for three categories of

products and services in five countries in 2002.

It is clear that the largest proportion of consumer spending in each country

went on food, drinks and tobacco. On the other hand, the leisure/education
category has the lowest percentages in the table.

Out of the five countries, consumer spending on food, drinks and tobacco was
noticeably higher in Turkey, at 32.14%, and Ireland, at nearly 29%. The
proportion of spending on leisure and education was also highest in Turkey, at
4.35%, while expenditure on clothing and footwear was significantly higher in
Italy, at 9%, than in any of the other countries.

It can be seen that Sweden had the lowest percentages of national consumer
expenditure for food/drinks/tobacco and for clothing/footwear, at nearly 16%
and just over 5% respectively. Spain had slightly higher figures for these
categories, but the lowest figure for leisure/education, at only 1.98%.

Note:
- Which information did I choose to include in my 'summary' paragraph?
- Why did I use past and present tenses in paragraph 2?
- How did I group the information for paragraphs 3 and 4?
IELTS Writing Task 1: graph and table essay
The graph and table below give information about water use worldwide
and water consumption in two different countries.

The charts compare the amount of water used for agriculture, industry and
homes around the world, and water use in Brazil and the Democratic Republic
of Congo.

It is clear that global water needs rose significantly between 1900 and 2000,
and that agriculture accounted for the largest proportion of water used. We
can also see that water consumption was considerably higher in Brazil than in
the Congo.

In 1900, around 500km³ of water was used by the agriculture sector

worldwide. The figures for industrial and domestic water consumption stood at
around one fifth of that amount. By 2000, global water use for agriculture had
increased to around 3000km³, industrial water use had risen to just under half
that amount, and domestic consumption had reached approximately 500km³.

In the year 2000, the populations of Brazil and the Congo were 176 million
and 5.2 million respectively. Water consumption per person in Brazil, at
359m³, was much higher than that in the Congo, at only 8m³, and this could
be explained by the fact that Brazil had 265 times more irrigated land.

IELTS Writing Task 1: pie chart essay

The pie charts compare the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat in
three different diets, namely an average diet, a healthy diet, and a healthy diet
for sport.

It is noticeable that sportspeople require a diet comprising a significantly

higher proportion of carbohydrates than an average diet or a healthy diet. The
average diet contains the lowest percentage of carbohydrates but the highest
proportion of protein.

Carbohydrates ______ ______ 60% of the healthy diet for sport. This is 10%
______ than the proportion of carbohydrates in a normal healthy diet, and
20% more than the proportion in an average diet. On the other hand, people
who eat an average diet consume a greater ______ ______ of protein (40%)
than those who eat a healthy diet (30%) and sportspeople (25%).

The third compound shown in the charts is fat. Fat ______ exactly ______
______ of both the average diet and the healthy diet, but the ______ ______
to only 15% for the healthy sports diet.

1. make2. up3. higher4. relative5. amount6. constitutes7. one8. fifth

9. figure10. drops

IELTS Writing Task 1: table exercise

The chart below shows average hours and minutes spent by UK males
and females on different daily activities.

The table compares the average amount of time per day that men and women
in the UK spend doing different activities.

It is clear that people in the UK spend more time sleeping than doing any
other daily activity. Also, there are significant differences between the time
spent by men and women on employment/study and housework.

On average, men and women in the UK sleep for about 8 hours per day.
Leisure takes up the second largest proportion of their time. Men spend 5
hours and 25 minutes doing various leisure activities, such as watching TV or
doing sport, while women have 4 hours and 53 minutes of leisure time.

It is noticeable that men work or study for an average of 79 minutes more than
women every day. By contrast, women spend 79 minutes more than men
doing housework, and they spend over twice as much time looking after
children.
IELTS Writing Task 1: line graph exercise
The graph below shows UK acid rain emissions, measured in millions of
tonnes, from four different sectors between 1990 and 2007.

The line graph compares four sectors in terms of the amount of acid rain
emissions that they produced over a period of 17 years in the UK.

It is clear that the total amount of acid rain emissions in the UK fell
considerably between 1990 and 2007. The most dramatic decrease was seen
in the electricity, gas and water supply sector.

In 1990, around 3.3 million tonnes of acid rain emissions came from the
electricity, gas and water sector. The transport and communication sector was
responsible for about 0.7 million tonnes of emissions, while the domestic
sector produced around 0.6 million tonnes. Just over 2 million tonnes of acid
rain gases came from other industries.

Emissions from electricity, gas and water supply fell dramatically to only 0.5
million tonnes in 2007, a drop of almost 3 million tonnes. While acid rain
gases from the domestic sector and other industries fell gradually, the
transport sector saw a small increase in emissions, reaching a peak of 1
million tonnes in 2005.
IELTS Writing Task 1: house prices (full essay)
The chart below shows information about changes in average house
prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with the
average house prices in 1989.

The bar chart compares the cost of an average house in five major cities over
a period of 13 years from 1989.

We can see that house prices fell overall between 1990 and 1995, but most of
the cities saw rising prices between 1996 and 2002. London experienced by
far the greatest changes in house prices over the 13-year period.

Over the 5 years after 1989, the cost of average homes in Tokyo and London
dropped by around 7%, while New York house prices went down by 5%. By
contrast, prices rose by approximately 2% in both Madrid and Frankfurt.

Between 1996 and 2002, London house prices jumped to around 12% above
the 1989 average. Homebuyers in New York also had to pay significantly
more, with prices rising to 5% above the 1989 average, but homes in Tokyo
remained cheaper than they were in 1989. The cost of an average home in
Madrid rose by a further 2%, while prices in Frankfurt remained stable.

(165 words)
IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay
The table below shows the proportion of different categories of families
living in poverty in Australia in 1999.

The table gives information about poverty rates among six types of household
in Australia in the year 1999.

It is noticeable that levels of poverty were higher for single people than for
couples, and people with children were more likely to be poor than those
without. Poverty rates were considerably lower among elderly people.

Overall, 11% of Australians, or 1,837,000 people, were living in poverty in

1999. Aged people were the least likely to be poor, with poverty levels of 6%
and 4% for single aged people and aged couples respectively.

Just over one fifth of single parents were living in poverty, whereas only 12%
of parents living with a partner were classed as poor. The same pattern can
be seen for people with no children: while 19% of single people in this group
were living below the poverty line, the figure for couples was much lower, at
only 7%.

(150 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay (describe a map)
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.

The map shows two potential locations (S1 and S2) for a new supermarket in
a town called Garlsdon.

The main difference between the two sites is that S1 is outside the town,
whereas S2 is in the town centre. The sites can also be compared in terms of
access by road or rail, and their positions relative to three smaller towns.

Looking at the information in more detail, S1 is in the countryside to the north

west of Garlsdon, but it is close to the residential area of the town. S2 is also
close to the housing area, which surrounds the town centre.

There are main roads from Hindon, Bransdon and Cransdon to Garlsdon town
centre, but this is a no traffic zone, so there would be no access to S2 by car.
By contrast, S1 lies on the main road to Hindon, but it would be more difficult
to reach from Bransdon and Cransdon. Both supermarket sites are close to
the railway that runs through Garlsdon from Hindon to Cransdon.

IELTS Writing Task 1: bar chart essay

The bar chart compares consumer spending on six different items in
Germany, Italy, France and Britain.

It is clear that British people spent significantly more money than people in the
other three countries on all six goods. Of the six items, consumers spent the
most money on photographic film.

People in Britain spent just over £170,000 on photographic film, which is the
highest figure shown on the chart. By contrast, Germans were the lowest
overall spenders, with roughly the same figures (just under £150,000) for each
of the six products.

The figures for spending on toys were the same in both France and Italy, at
nearly £160,000. However, while French people spent more than Italians on
photographic film and CDs, Italians paid out more for personal stereos, tennis
racquets and perfumes. The amount spent by French people on tennis
racquets, around £145,000, is the lowest figure shown on the chart.
The diagrams below show some principles of house design for cool and
for warm climates.

IELTS Writing Task 1: house design essay

The diagrams show how house designs differ according to climate.

The most noticeable difference between houses designed for cool and warm
climates is in the shape of the roof. The designs also differ with regard to the
windows and the use of insulation.

We can see that the cool climate house has a high-angled roof, which allows
sunlight to enter through the window. By contrast, the roof of the warm climate
house has a peak in the middle and roof overhangs to shade the windows.
Insulation and thermal building materials are used in cool climates to reduce
heat loss, whereas insulation and reflective materials are used to keep the
heat out in warm climates.

Finally, the cool climate house has one window which faces the direction of
the sun, while the warm climate house has windows on two sides which are
shaded from the sun. By opening the two windows at night, the house
designed for warm climates can be ventilated.
IELTS Writing Task 1: 'water cycle' essay
Several people have asked me for the full essay for this question, so here it is!

The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous
movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth.

The picture illustrates the way in which water passes from ocean to air to land
during the natural process known as the water cycle.

Three main stages are shown on the diagram. Ocean water evaporates, falls
as rain, and eventually runs back into the oceans again.

Beginning at the evaporation stage, we can see that 80% of water vapour in
the air comes from the oceans. Heat from the sun causes water to evaporate,
and water vapour condenses to form clouds. At the second stage, labelled
‘precipitation’ on the diagram, water falls as rain or snow.

At the third stage in the cycle, rainwater may take various paths. Some of it
may fall into lakes or return to the oceans via ‘surface runoff’. Otherwise,
rainwater may filter through the ground, reaching the impervious layer of the
earth. Salt water intrusion is shown to take place just before groundwater
passes into the oceans to complete the cycle.

(156 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'building plans' essay
The diagrams below are existing and proposed floor plans for the
redevelopment of an art gallery.

The first picture shows the layout of an art gallery, and the second shows
some proposed changes to the gallery space.

It is clear that significant changes will be made in terms of the use of floor
space in the gallery. There will be a completely new entrance and more space
for exhibitions.

At present, visitors enter the gallery through doors which lead into a lobby.
However, the plan is to move the entrance to the Parkinson Court side of the
building, and visitors will walk straight into the exhibition area. In place of the
lobby and office areas, which are shown on the existing plan, the new gallery
plan shows an education area and a small storage area.

The permanent exhibition space in the redeveloped gallery will be about twice
as large as it is now because it will occupy the area that is now used for
temporary exhibitions. There will also be a new room for special exhibitions.
This room is shown in red on the existing plan and is not currently part of the
gallery.
IELTS Writing Task 1: 'table' essay
The table below gives information about the underground railway
systems in six cities.

Full essay (band 9):

The table shows data about the underground rail networks in six major cities.

The table compares the six networks in terms of their age, size and the
number of people who use them each year. It is clear that the three oldest
underground systems are larger and serve significantly more passengers than
the newer systems.

The London underground is the oldest system, having opened in 1863. It is

also the largest system, with 394 kilometres of route. The second largest
system, in Paris, is only about half the size of the London underground, with
199 kilometres of route. However, it serves more people per year. While only
third in terms of size, the Tokyo system is easily the most used, with 1927
million passengers per year.

Of the three newer networks, the Washington DC underground is the most

extensive, with 126 kilometres of route, compared to only 11 kilometres and
28 kilometres for the Kyoto and Los Angeles systems. The Los Angeles
network is the newest, having opened in 2001, while the Kyoto network is the
smallest and serves only 45 million passengers per year.

(185 words)
IELTS Writing Task 1: four pie charts essay
Here is my full essay for a question about 4 pie charts.

Cambridge IELTS book 7, page 101:

The pie charts compare the amount of electricity produced using five different
sources of fuel in two countries over two separate years.

Total electricity production increased dramatically from 1980 to 2000 in both

Australia and France. While the totals for both countries were similar, there
were big differences in the fuel sources used.

Coal was used to produce 50 of the total 100 units of electricity in Australia in
1980, rising to 130 out of 170 units in 2000. By contrast, nuclear power
became the most important fuel source in France in 2000, producing almost
75% of the country’s electricity.

Australia depended on hydro power for just under 25% of its electricity in both
years, but the amount of electricity produced using this type of power fell from
5 to only 2 units in France. Oil, on the other hand, remained a relatively
important fuel source in France, but its use declined in Australia. Both
countries relied on natural gas for electricity production significantly more in
1980 than in 2000.

(170 words)
IELTS Writing Task 1: sample essay (migration)
Read my full essay for the chart below. How have I organised the
information? What language have I used to explain changes and to
make comparisons?

Full essay (159 words):

The chart gives information about UK immigration, emigration and net

migration between 1999 and 2008.

Both immigration and emigration rates rose over the period shown, but the
figures for immigration were significantly higher. Net migration peaked in 2004
and 2007.

In 1999, over 450,000 people came to live in the UK, while the number of
people who emigrated stood at just under 300,000. The figure for net
migration was around 160,000, and it remained at a similar level until 2003.
From 1999 to 2004, the immigration rate rose by nearly 150,000 people, but
there was a much smaller rise in emigration. Net migration peaked at almost
250,000 people in 2004.

After 2004, the rate of immigration remained high, but the number of people
emigrating fluctuated. Emigration fell suddenly in 2007, before peaking at
about 420,000 people in 2008. As a result, the net migration figure rose to
around 240,000 in 2007, but fell back to around 160,000 in 2008.
IELTS Writing Task 1: bar charts essay
The charts below show the levels of participation in education and
science in developing and industrialised countries in 1980 and 1990.

The three bar charts show average years of schooling, numbers of scientists
and technicians, and research and development spending in developing and
developed countries. Figures are given for 1980 and 1990.

It is clear from the charts that the figures for developed countries are much
higher than those for developing nations. Also, the charts show an overall
increase in participation in education and science from 1980 to 1990.
People in developing nations attended school for an average of around 3
years, with only a slight increase in years of schooling from 1980 to 1990. On
the other hand, the figure for industrialised countries rose from nearly 9 years
of schooling in 1980 to nearly 11 years in 1990.

From 1980 to 1990, the number of scientists and technicians in industrialised

countries almost doubled to about 70 per 1000 people. Spending on research
and development also saw rapid growth in these countries, reaching $350
billion in 1990. By contrast, the number of science workers in developing
countries remained below 20 per 1000 people, and research spending fell
from about $50 billion to only $25 billion.

(187 words)
IELTS Writing Task 1: process diagram essay
Last week I suggested an essay structure for the following question:

The diagram below shows how the Australian Bureau of Meteorology

collects up-to-the-minute information on the weather in order to produce
reliable forecasts.

Here is my full essay (170 words):

The figure illustrates the process used by the Australian Bureau of

Meteorology to forecast the weather.

There are four stages in the process, beginning with the collection of
information about the weather. This information is then analysed, prepared for
presentation, and finally broadcast to the public.

Looking at the first and second stages of the process, there are three ways of
collecting weather data and three ways of analysing it. Firstly, incoming
information can be received by satellite and presented for analysis as a
satellite photo. The same data can also be passed to a radar station and
presented on a radar screen or synoptic chart. Secondly, incoming
information may be collected directly by radar and analysed on a radar screen
or synoptic chart. Finally, drifting buoys also receive data which can be shown
on a synoptic chart.

At the third stage of the process, the weather broadcast is prepared on

computers. Finally, it is delivered to the public on television, on the radio, or
as a recorded telephone announcement.
IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay
The essay below is 151 words long. I've tried to make it as simple as possible,
but it's still good enough to get a band 9.

The line graph compares the percentage of people in three countries who
used the Internet between 1999 and 2009.

It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased
in each country over the period shown. Overall, a much larger percentage of
Canadians and Americans had access to the Internet in comparison with
Mexicans, and Canada experienced the fastest growth in Internet usage.

In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about
20%. The figures for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5%
respectively. In 2005, Internet usage in both the USA and Canada rose to
around 70% of the population, while the figure for Mexico reached just over
25%.

By 2009, the percentage of Internet users was highest in Canada. Almost

100% of Canadians used the Internet, compared to about 80% of Americans
and only 40% of Mexicans.
The bar chart shows the number of hot dogs and buns eaten in 15 minutes by
the winners of ‘Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest’ in Brooklyn, USA between
1980 and 2010.

It is noticeable that the number of hot dogs and buns eaten by winners of the
contest increased dramatically over the period shown. The majority of winners
were American or Japanese, and only one woman had ever won the contest.

Americans dominated the contest from 1980 to 1996, and the winning number

of hot dogs and buns consumed rose from only 8 to around 21 during that
time. 1983 and 1984 were notable exceptions to the trend for American
winners. In 1983 a Mexican won the contest after eating 19.5 hot dogs, almost
double the amount that any previous winner had eaten, and 1984 saw the
only female winner, Birgit Felden from Germany.

A Japanese contestant, Takeru Kobayashi, reigned as hot dog eating

championfor six years from 2001 to 2006. Kobayashi’s winning totals of
around 50 hot dogs were roughly double the amount that any previous winner
had managed. However, the current champion, American Joey Chestnut, took
hot dog eating to new heights in 2009 when he consumed an incredible 68 hot
dogs and buns in the allotted 15 minutes.
The map shows the growth of a village called Chorleywood between 1868 and
1994.

It is clear that the village grew as the transport infrastructure was improved.
Four periods of development are shown on the map, and each of the
populated areas is near to the main roads, the railway or the motorway.

From 1868 to 1883, Chorleywood covered a small area next to one of the
main roads. Chorleywood Park and Golf Course is now located next to this
original village area. The village grew along the main road to the south
between 1883 and 1922, and in 1909 a railway line was built crossing this
area from west to east. Chorleywood station is in this part of the village.

The expansion of Chorleywood continued to the east and west alongside the
railway line until 1970. At that time, a motorway was built to the east of the
village, and from 1970 to 1994, further development of the village took place
around motorway intersections with the railway and one of the main roads.
The graph below shows changes in young adult unemployment rates in
England between 1993 and 2012.

The line graph compares levels of unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds

with overall unemployment figures over a period of 20 years in England.

It is clear that the proportion of young adults who were unemployed at any
time between 1993 and 2012 was significantly higher than the overall
proportion of adults without work. Unemployment rates for both groups of
adults were consistently higher in London than in the rest of England.

In 1993, around 18% of English 16 to 24-year-olds living outside London were

unemployed, but the figure for those living in the capital was 5% higher, at
22%. Similarly, the overall adult unemployment rate in London, at 14%, was
4% higher than the rate in the rest of England. While levels of joblessness fell
significantly over the following 10 years, the trend for higher levels in London
and among young adults continued.

Young adult unemployment in England rose dramatically between 2002 and

2012, from 12% to 21% outside London, and from around 15% to a peak of
25% in the capital. By contrast, the proportions of all adults without work
remained below 10%, both in London and in the rest of the country.
The table below shows changes in the numbers of residents cycling to
work in different areas of the UK between 2001 and 2011.

The table compares the numbers of people who cycled to work in twelve
areas of the UK in the years 2001 and 2011.

Overall, the number of UK commuters who travelled to work by bicycle rose

considerably over the 10-year period. Inner London had by far the highest
number of cycling commuters in both years.

In 2001, well over 43 thousand residents of inner London commuted by

bicycle, and this figure rose to more than 106 thousand in 2011, an increase
of 144%. By contrast, although outer London had the second highest number
of cycling commuters in each year, the percentage change, at only 45%, was
the lowest of the twelve areas shown in the table.

Brighton and Hove saw the second biggest increase (109%) in the number of
residents cycling to work, but Bristol was the UK’s second city in terms of total
numbers of cycling commuters, with 8,108 in 2001 and 15,768 in 2011.
Figures for the other eight areas were below the 10 thousand mark in both
years.

(172 words, band 9)

The table below shows the amount of waste production (in millions of
tonnes) in six different countries over a twenty-year period.

The chart compares the amounts of waste that were produced in six countries
in the years 1980, 1990 and 2000.

In each of these years, the US produced more waste than Ireland, Japan,
Korea, Poland and Portugal combined. It is also noticeable that Korea was the
only country that managed to reduce its waste output by the year 2000.

Between 1980 and 2000, waste production in the US rose from 131 to 192
million tonnes, and rising trends were also seen in Japan, Poland and
Portugal. Japan’s waste output increased from 28 to 53 million tonnes, while
Poland and Portugal saw waste totals increase from 4 to 6.6 and from 2 to 5
million tonnes respectively.

The trends for Ireland and Korea were noticeably different from those
described above. In Ireland, waste production increased more than eightfold,
from only 0.6 million tonnes in 1980 to 5 million tonnes in 2000. Korea, by
contrast, cut its waste output by 12 million tonnes between 1990 and 2000.
The diagrams below show how houses can be protected in areas which
are prone to flooding.

The diagrams compare two different methods of defence for homes which are
at risk of being flooded.

The key difference between the diagrams is that they show flood protection
with and without a stopbank. In either case, the at-risk home is raised on stilts
above ground level.

The first diagram shows how a stopbank acts as a flood barrier to stop river
water from flooding homes. The stopbank is a small mound of land next to the
river that is higher than the 100-year flood level, and prevents the river from
bursting its banks. Nearby houses can be built on stilts to prevent flooding
from rainwater, and a floodgate beneath the stopbank can be opened to allow
this ‘ponding’ to drain off into the river.

When there is no stopbank, as shown in the second diagram, there will be

nothing to stop the river from flooding. In this case, the solution is to put
buildings on stilts. The height of the stilts is measured so that the floor of the
house is 300mm above the 100-year flood level. This measurement is called
the ‘freeboard’.
The pie charts below show how dangerous waste products are dealt
with in three countries.

The charts compare Korea, Sweden and the UK in terms of the methods used
in each country to dispose of harmful waste.

It is clear that in both the UK and Sweden, the majority of dangerous waste
products are buried underground. By contrast, most hazardous materials in
the Republic of Korea are recycled.

Looking at the information in more detail, we can see that 82% of the UK’s
dangerous waste is put into landfill sites. This disposal technique is used for
55% of the harmful waste in Sweden and only 22% of similar waste in Korea.
The latter country recycles 69% of hazardous materials, which is far more
than the other two nations.

While 25% of Sweden's dangerous waste is recycled, the UK does not recycle
at all. Instead, it dumps waste at sea or treats it chemically. These two
methods are not employed in Korea or Sweden, which favour incineration for
9% and 20% of dangerous waste respectively.