ielts sample writing essays

- prents a clear overview of main trends, differences or stages

Ex:

The graph shows the preferred leisure activities of Australian children aged 5-14. As might be

expected, it is clear from the data that dentary pursuits are far more popular nowadays than

active ones.

- prents and highlights key features

- logically organizes information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout <- clear structure, main

- us a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-u <- u adverb

ideas, then supporting ones, key points…

to express level, emotion…

Ex:

surprisingly, dramatically, as expected

relatively

highly

far more adj than…

it is clear from the data that…

the most / the cond most…

us a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision <- u synonyms, appropriate -

terms in context

Ex:

Show information / illustrate / prent / display

us less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation <- u academic, professional -

terms (not common ones)

may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation <- check spelling, grammar. -

Normally task 1 u simple prent and prent perfect ten

us a variety of complex structures ? if… then / while…, / adjective clau / noun clau / adjective phra -

/ …

Ex:

- Of the 10,000 children that were interviewed, some/ all…

- In addition,…

- Noun/ compound noud, V-ing (adjective phra), verb…

- While + noun clau – explanation - , only + noun clau

- Noun, on the other hand, verb

- Noun clau and noun clau

- Although…

- In spite of…

- However…

- As adj as…

- More … than…

-

- produces frequent error-free ntences

- has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors <- check parallel, punctuation…

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below gives information about the preferred leisure activities of Australian

children.

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

You should write at least 150 words.

model answer:

The graph shows the preferred leisure activities of Australian children aged 5-14. As might be

expected, it is clear from the data that dentary pursuits are far more popular nowadays than

active ones.

Of the 10,000 children that were interviewed, all the boys and girls stated that they enjoyed

watching TV or videos in their spare time. In addition, the cond most popular activity,

attracting 80% of boys and 60% of girls, was playing electronic or computer games. While girls

rated activities such as art and craft highly – just under 60% stated that they enjoyed the in

their spare time – only 35% of boys opted for creative pastimes. Bike riding, on the other hand,

was almost as popular as electronic games amongst boys and, perhaps surprisingly, almost 60%

of girls said that they enjoyed this too. Skateboarding was relatively less popular amongst both

boys and girls, although it still attracted 35% of boys and 25% of girls.

(157 words)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram below shows how a central heating system in a hou works.

Summari the information by lecting and reporting the main features, and make

comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words.

model answer:

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 waterto both the radiators and the taps.

The cold water enters the hou 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 hou.

The boiler, which is fuelled by gas or oil, heats up the water as it pass through it. The hot water

is then pumped round the hou 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 hou.

Once the water has been through the pipes and radiators, it is returned to the boiler to be re-

heated and circulated round the hou again.

Introduction: First ntence. Overview: Second ntence.

Key features: Entry of cold water into boiler; circulation of hot waterto radiators and taps;

return of waterto boiler.

Supporting information: direction of flow; types of boiler; location of radiators; radiator tubes

Paragraph breaks: The paragraph breaks mark stages in the process.

Linkers: and, from there, then, once, again Reference words: it, both, there, which, this

Topic vocabulary: enters, stored, roof, flows, ground floor, located, pass, pumped, system,

circulates, heat, directed, returned, re-heated

Less common vocabulary: ensure, fuelled by, heats up, distribute the heat, warms

Structures: An appropriate mix of active and passive structures and a range of ntence types

are ud.

Length: 172 words

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The bar chart below shows the results of a survey conducted by a personnel department at

a major company. The survey was carried out on two groups of workers: tho aged from

18-30 and tho aged 45-60, and shows factors affecting their work performance.

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

You should write at least 150 words.

model answer:

The bar chart indicates a survey on two different age groups on the factors contributing to make

their environment pleasant for working.

The factors are divided into external and internal factors. The internal factors are team spirit,

competent boss, respect from colleagues and job satisfaction. The external factors are chance for

personal development, job curity, promotional prospects and money.

On the internal factors above 50% in both age groups agreed that team spirit, competent boss and

job satisfaction are esntial to make their environment pleasant. Whereas on the external factors,

there are contrasting results. On the chance for personal development and promotional aspects,

80% to 90% of the younger groups were in favor while only less than 50% of the older group

thought so. A similar pattern is also noted on job curity. With regards to money, 69% to 70%

on both age group said it is esntial.

In conclusion, the internal factors have similar respons from the two age groups while they had

dissimilar respons on the external factors.

(170 words)

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7 score. Here is the examiner's

comment:

The information contained in the bar chart has been described accurately and concily and

follows a clear progression. There is a clear introduction followed by effective comparisons

between the age groups and a valid conclusion. Good formulaic phras (the bar chart indicates,

the factors are divided), although the candidate us the same language to describe the factors

in the bar chart and does not attempt to rephra them in any way.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below compares the number of visits to two new music sites on the web.

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

You should write at least 150 words.

model answer:

The graph shows people using new music places on the Internet in fifteen days period of time

namely personal choice and trendy pop music.

The overall trend shows fluctuation with slight Incread towards the end of the period.

Starting with Music Choice websites; 40,000 poeple went on this new site on first-day. Half of

them backed out the next day. In Contrast to this Pop Parade net sites were visited by 120,000

music lovers on day one which decread slightly on the next day thereafter regaining the same

fame on 3rd day.

After 3rd day the enthusiasm for both music lines on Internet dropped slowly- reaching

maximum fall of 40,000 on 7th day. Whereas Music choice gained popularity, slightly

Improoving to get the original strength of 30,000 viewers on screen, but was getting still less

visiters than their opponent Pop 40,000 on day 7.

In the biegining of the next week both gained remarkable recovery after a few fluctuations for

8th and 9th day having 40,000 and 50,000 visiters respectively, reaching to their peaks of one

and a half thousand new viewers for Pop Parade on 11th day showing a contrast of very few

people visiting Music choice for the same day. Thereafter Music choice gained popularity on

12th day for having more than 120,000 new visiters on web.

In the end of the period Pop sites were visited by maximum viewers of 180,000 whereas sites

located to Music choice were not explored by more than 80,000 explorers on the last day of the

report.

(257 words)

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6 score. Here is the examiner's

comment:

Well organized with some good linking devices and collocations (gain popularity, remarkable

recovery, decrea slightly) and some valid comparison of the music sites. However, some

ntences are long and confusing (paragraph 5), some collocations are inaccurate (slight

incread, reaching to their peaks) and there is some repetition (7th day, 3rd day, 11 th day).

Some words are spelt incorrectly (poeple, Improoving, visiters, biegining).

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table below shows the proportion of different categories of families living in poverty in

Australia in 1999.

Summari the information by lecting and reporting the main features, and make

comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or

experience.

Proportion of people from each

houhold type living in poverty

Family type

single aged person 6% (54,000)

aged couple 4% (48,000)

single, no children 19% (359,000)

couple, no children 7% (211,000)

sole parent 21% (232,000)

couple with children 12% (933,000)

all houholds 11% (1,837,000)

model answer:

The table gives a breakdown of the different type of family who were living in poverty in

Australia in 1999.

On average, 11% of all houholds, comprising almost two million people, were in this position.

However, tho consisting of only one parent or a single adult had almost doubt this proportion

of poor people, with 21% and 19% respectively.

Couples generally tended to be better off, with lower poverty levels for couples without children

(7%) than tho with children (12%). It is noticeable that for both types of houhold with

children, a higher than average proportion were living in poverty at this time.

Older people were generally less likely to be poor, though once again the trend favoured eldery

couples (only 4%) rather than single eldery people (6%).

Overall the table suggests that houholds of single adults and tho with children were more

likely to be living in poverty than tho consisting of couples.

(154 words)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

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.

You should write at least 150 words.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or

experience.

model answer:

Over the past 30 years, the average family has dramatically incread the number of meals that

they eat at restaurants. The percentage of the family's food budget spent on restaurant meals

steadily climbed. Just 10 percent of the food budget was spent on restaurant meals in 1970, and

15 percent in 1980. That percentage more than doubled in 1990, to 35 percent, and ro again in

2000 to 50 percent.

Where families eat their restaurant meals also changed during that 30-year period. In 1970,

families ate the same number of meals at fast food and sit-down restaurants. In 1980, fam?ilies

ate slightly more frequently at sit-down restaurants. However, since 1990, fast food restaurants

rve more meals to the families than do the sit-down restaurants. Most of the restaurant meals

from 2000 were eaten at fast food restaurants. If this pattern continues, eventually the number of

meals that families eat at fast food restaurants could double the number of meals they eat at sit-

down restaurants.

(164 words)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table below shows the sales at a small restaurant in a downtown business district.

Summarize the information by lecting and reporting the main features, and make

comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or

experience.

Fulfilling the Work Experience Requirement

Credits will be awarded when the final report is submitted.

Application

Choo potential workplaces from approved list and arrange

interviews. Submit applications to places of interest.

Approval

When acceptance letter is received, submit it

to professor for approval.

Schedule

Arrange schedule to work a minimum of 10

hours/ week over 20 weeks.

Reports

Complete weekly Report Form and submit to

professor every Friday.

Evaluation

During final workweek, participate in evaluation meeting

with work supervisor. Supervisor submits Evaluation Form.

Final Report

Submit Final Report before last week of spring term.

model answer:

Gaining work experience prior to graduation helps university students to succeed in getting their

first job. For this reason, some universities insist that all students must complete a Work

Experience Requirement. Completing the following six stages results in the requirements’

fulfillment.

The process begins with the Application stage. A student reviews an approved list of workplaces

and submits applications to places where he would like to work. Next is the Approval stage.

When a student receives an acceptance letter, he gives it to the professor for approval. The third

stage, Schedule, requires a student to arrange his work schedule. The student should work at least

10 hours/week over 20 weeks. Reports are next. The student must complete a Weekly Report

Form and turn it in to the professor every Friday.

The fifth stage, Evaluation, takes place during the final work week. A student participates in an

evaluation meeting with his work supervisor, who submits an Evaluation Form. The last stage

requires that a student submit a Final Report before the last week of spring mester.

By following the stages and subquently submitting the final report, the student receives

credit from the university.

(192 words)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

In June 1996, an experimental flu vaccine was trialled in a large country town on females

only.

Summari the information by lecting and reporting the main features, and make

comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or

experience.

model answer:

The diagrams show data for a flu epidemic which hit a large country town in 1996. Figure 1

gives the number of persons who died; Figure 2 shows the percentage breakdown of females

who received a new flu vaccine; and Figure 3 gives the number of cas of flu before and during

the epidemic.

In Figure 1 it can be en that the flu was responsible for the deaths of 2 females but no males in

the period from March to May. However, from June to August, there were 4 female deaths and 1

male death.

According to the pie chart in Figure 2, only tho females most at risk were given the new flu

vaccine; 28% did not take part in the trial. Of tho females who took part, 35% were aged (over

65 years old); 24% were babies or children; and 13% were either hospitalid or receiving other

medical attention.

From Figure 3 it is clear that the new vaccine had a positive effect on the number of new cas of

flu reported in females. There were just over 1000 cas reported in March, climbing rapidly to a

peak of 3500 in June. Thereafter, the number of cas dropped slowly to about 2800 in August,

before levelling off at 2500 for the rest of the year. For males, the figures were lower but showed

a similar trend throughout the epidemic.

(232 words)

The charts below show the main reasons for study among students of different

age groups and the amount of support they received from employers.

Summari the information by lecting and reporting the main features, and

make comparisons where relevant.

? You should write at least 150 words.

? You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

model answer:

The first graph shows that there is a gradual decrea 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.

Converly, the first graph also shows that study stemming from interest increas with age.

There are only 10% of under 26yr olds studing out of interest. The percentage increas

slowly till the beginning of the fourth decade, and increas 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 cond 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

incres in late adulthood up to about 44%. It is unclear whether employer support is only

for career-focud study, but the highest level is for tho students who mainly study for

career purpos.

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 8 score. Here is the

examiner's comment:

This answer summaris the key features of both charts and integrates them well. Clear

trends are identified and supported with appropriately-lected figures. The answer could

only be improved by adding an introduction to the general topic of the charts.

The information is well organid, with a clearly-signalled progression. Linking words are

ud accurately and precily, although there is occasional omission. Paragraphing is ud

well initially, but laps in the later ction.

A very good range of vocabulary is ud to convey the information concily and accurately

with only occasional inappropriacy. Words are ud precily and there are no errors in

spelling or word form.

A wide range of structures is ud and most ntences in this answer are accurate. Errors

are rare and do not affect communication in this answer.