📊 IELTS Writing Task 1 – Topic 5

🎯 Question

The stacked bar chart below shows the value of exports of five product categories (machinery, vehicles, textiles, food, and chemicals) from Country Y in 2010 and 2020.

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📝 Model Answer (Band 8–9, ~190 words)

The stacked bar chart compares the value of exports in five product categories from Country Y in 2010 and 2020.

Overall, machinery and vehicles remained the dominant exports, while textiles declined. Chemicals and food saw moderate growth over the decade.

In 2010, machinery was the largest export sector, worth around $50 billion, followed closely by vehicles at about $45 billion. Both increased over the period, with machinery rising to approximately $60 billion and vehicles to $55 billion in 2020. Together, they continued to account for more than half of all exports.

Textile exports, by contrast, fell significantly, from roughly $30 billion in 2010 to just $20 billion in 2020. Food exports grew steadily, climbing from $25 billion to $35 billion, overtaking textiles. Chemicals also showed growth, increasing from $20 billion to $30 billion during the same period.

In summary, while machinery and vehicles continued to dominate Country Y’s exports, the most notable changes were the decline of textiles and the rise of food and chemicals.

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🔑 Useful Vocabulary

• Dominant exports / accounted for / represented

• Rose steadily / increased significantly / declined sharply

• By contrast / overtook / continued to dominate

• Worth around / valued at / reached approximately

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🔗 Linking Words

• Addition: in addition, furthermore, together, combined

• Contrast: whereas, by contrast, on the other hand

• Trends: over the decade, during the period, continued to

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✍️ Guidelines for Writing This Essay

1. Plan (2–3 minutes)

   • Identify dominant categories (machinery, vehicles).

   • Identify decline (textiles).

   • Identify growth (food, chemicals).

2. Structure

   • Intro: paraphrase question.

   • Overview: key trends (machinery & vehicles dominant, textiles decline).

   • Body 1: machinery, vehicles.

   • Body 2: textiles, food, chemicals.

   • Conclusion: summarise.

3. Topic Sentences

   • “Machinery and vehicles remained the largest contributors to exports.”

   • “By contrast, textiles declined, while food and chemicals increased steadily.”

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💡 Language Focus

• Verb vs. Noun phrases:

  • Textiles fell sharply / There was a sharp fall in textiles.

  • Food exports rose steadily / There was a steady rise in food exports.

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🔟 Practice Exercises

A. Fill-in

1. Machinery exports ______ from $50bn to $60bn.

2. Textiles ______ sharply to $20bn in 2020.

B. Rewrite with noun phrases

1. “Food exports increased steadily.” → …

2. “Textiles declined significantly.” → …

C. Choose overview
a) Machinery $50→60bn, Vehicles $45→55bn, Textiles $30→20bn, Food $25→35bn, Chemicals $20→30bn.
b) Machinery and vehicles dominated, textiles declined, and food/chemicals grew steadily.

D. Comparisons

1. Machinery in 2020 was ______ as high as chemicals in 2010.

2. Food exports in 2020 ______ textiles exports in 2020.

E. Spot the error
“Vehicles export increased steadily between 2010 and 2020.”

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✅ Suggested Answers

A: 1. rose / increased 2. fell / dropped
B: 1. There was a steady increase in food exports. 2. There was a significant decline in textiles.
C: b)
D: 1. three times 2. overtook / surpassed
E: Wrong form → should be “Vehicle exports…”

 

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Topic 4

🎯 Question

The table below shows the percentage of journeys made by different modes of transport in City X in 2000, 2010, and 2020.

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📝 Model Answer (Band 8–9, ~190 words)

The table illustrates the proportion of trips made by five types of transport in City X in 2000, 2010, and 2020.

Overall, private car use increased significantly over the period and became the most common mode of travel. By contrast, bus and bicycle use declined steadily. Walking and train travel showed more stable figures, with only slight changes.

In 2000, buses were the most popular, accounting for 38% of journeys, followed by cars at 30%. However, bus usage declined to 25% in 2010 and fell further to just 18% in 2020. Similarly, bicycles dropped from 20% to 10% over the same period.

Car use, on the other hand, rose steadily, reaching 35% in 2010 and 45% by 2020. This made cars the dominant means of travel by the end of the period. Walking accounted for 10% in 2000 and remained fairly stable, fluctuating slightly to 9% in 2020. Train travel also remained relatively low but increased gradually from 2% to 5%.

In summary, City X witnessed a shift away from public and non-motorised transport towards private car usage between 2000 and 2020.

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🔑 Useful Vocabulary

• Dominant mode / accounted for / represented

• Declined steadily / fell gradually / dropped sharply

• Rose steadily / increased significantly / fluctuated slightly

• By contrast / in comparison / became the most common

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🔗 Linking Words

• Trend changes: over the period, by 2020, during the decade

• Comparisons: whereas, by contrast, compared with

• Overview phrases: overall, it is clear that, in summary

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✍️ Guidelines for Writing This Essay

1. Plan (2–3 minutes)

   • Identify largest (cars by 2020).

   • Identify smallest (train throughout).

   • Identify decline (bus, bicycle).

   • Identify stability (walking).

2. Structure

   • Intro: paraphrase question.

   • Overview: key trends (car ↑, bus/bike ↓).

   • Body 1: buses, bicycles, cars.

   • Body 2: walking, trains.

   • Conclusion: summarise.

3. Topic Sentences

   • “Car use rose steadily and overtook buses to become the most popular mode.”

   • “By contrast, buses and bicycles declined steadily over the period.”

   • “Walking remained stable, while train usage grew only slightly.”

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💡 Language Focus

• Verb vs. Noun phrases:

  • Bus usage declined steadily / There was a steady decline in bus usage.

  • Car travel rose sharply / There was a sharp rise in car travel.

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🔟 Practice Exercises

A. Fill-in

1. Car use ______ from 30% to 45%.

2. Bus travel ______ from 38% to 18%.

B. Rewrite with noun phrases

1. “Bicycle use fell gradually.” → …

2. “Car usage rose steadily.” → …

C. Choose overview
a) Cars, buses, bicycles, walking, and trains all changed between 2000 and 2020.
b) Car use rose sharply to become dominant, while buses and bicycles fell steadily.

D. Comparisons

1. By 2020, cars were ______ as popular as trains.

2. Bicycle journeys in 2000 were ______ times higher than in 2020.

E. Spot the error
“The percentage of bus use decreased steady from 2000 to 2020.”

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✅ Suggested Answers

A: 1. increased / rose 2. fell / dropped
B: 1. There was a gradual fall in bicycle use. 2. There was a steady rise in car usage.
C: b)
D: 1. nine times 2. two
E: Wrong word form → should be “steadily”.

 

📊 IELTS Writing Task 1 – Topic 3

🎯 Question

The line graph below shows the population growth in three regions (Asia, Europe, and Africa) between 1960 and 2020.

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📝 Model Answer (Band 8–9, ~190 words)

The line graph compares population growth in Asia, Europe, and Africa between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, Asia experienced the most dramatic increase, while Europe’s population grew slowly before stabilising. Africa also saw rapid growth, particularly after 1990.

In 1960, Asia had the highest population, at about 1.5 billion, compared with 600 million in Europe and around 300 million in Africa. Over the following decades, Asia’s figure rose sharply, more than doubling to over 3.5 billion by 2020.

Africa’s growth was also notable. From a relatively low base of 300 million, its population increased steadily, accelerating after 1990 to reach approximately 1.3 billion in 2020 — more than four times its 1960 level.

By contrast, Europe showed the least growth. Its population climbed slowly from 600 million in 1960 to just over 700 million in 1990, before levelling off and remaining almost unchanged thereafter.

In summary, Asia and Africa saw substantial rises in population over the period, whereas Europe experienced only modest growth followed by stability.

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🔑 Useful Vocabulary

• Rose sharply / grew steadily / levelled off / remained stable

• Dramatic increase / gradual growth / modest rise / stabilised

• More than doubled / quadrupled / more than four times as high

• From a low base / by contrast / the most significant growth

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🔗 Linking Words

• Contrast: whereas, by contrast, while

• Time phrases: over the following decades, after 1990, thereafter

• Cause/Effect: as a result, consequently, therefore

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✍️ Guidelines for Writing This Essay

1. Plan (2–3 minutes)

   • Identify highest (Asia).

   • Identify lowest (Africa in 1960, but rapid growth later).

   • Identify slowest growth (Europe).

2. Structure

   • Introduction: paraphrase question.

   • Overview: main trends (Asia + Africa rapid growth, Europe stable).

   • Body 1: Asia + Africa.

   • Body 2: Europe.

   • Conclusion: summarise.

3. Topic Sentences

   • “Asia experienced the greatest population growth, more than doubling over the period.”

   • “Africa also grew rapidly, particularly after 1990.”

   • “In contrast, Europe’s growth was slow and eventually stabilised.”

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💡 Language Focus

• Verb vs. Noun forms:

  • The population rose sharply / There was a sharp rise in the population.

  • Europe’s numbers levelled off / Europe saw a period of stability.

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🔟 Practice Exercises

A. Fill-in

1. Asia’s population ______ from 1.5 to 3.5 billion.

2. Europe’s population ______ at around 700 million after 1990.

B. Rewrite with noun phrases

1. “Africa’s population grew steadily.” → …

2. “Europe’s population levelled off.” → …

C. Choose overview
a) Asia 1.5 → 3.5bn, Europe 600→700m, Africa 300→1.3bn.
b) Asia and Africa grew rapidly, while Europe remained relatively stable.

D. Comparisons

1. Asia’s population in 2020 was ______ Africa’s in 1960.

2. Africa’s population more than ______ between 1960 and 2020.

E. Spot the error
“Europe population was stable from 1990.”

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✅ Suggested Answers

A: 1. rose sharply 2. remained stable
B: 1. There was steady growth in Africa’s population. 2. There was a levelling off in Europe’s population.
C: b)
D: 1. more than ten times 2. quadrupled
E: Missing article → “Europe’s population…”

 

📊 IELTS Writing Task 1 – Topic 2

🎯 Question

The pie chart below shows the percentage of electricity generated from different sources in Country X in 2022.

(I will generate the pie chart after building the lesson content.)

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📝 Model Answer (Band 8–9, ~190 words)

The pie chart illustrates the proportion of electricity produced from five different sources in Country X in 2022.

Overall, fossil fuels were the dominant source of power, accounting for more than half of the total, while renewable energy sources together made up a smaller but still significant share. Nuclear energy contributed the least.

According to the chart, coal was the largest contributor, generating 35% of the electricity supply. This was followed by natural gas at 25%, meaning that together these two fossil fuels accounted for 60% of total production. Oil represented a smaller share of 10%.

In contrast, renewable sources made up nearly one-third of the total. Hydropower contributed 15%, and solar and wind combined provided another 20%. Despite this, their total still fell short of fossil fuel output. Nuclear power was the least significant source, producing just 5%.

In summary, electricity generation in Country X remained heavily dependent on fossil fuels, although renewables also played an important and growing role.

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🔑 Useful Vocabulary

• Dominant source / accounted for / represented

• Made up / contributed / provided

• Fell short of / in contrast / the least significant

• More than half / nearly one-third / together made up

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🔗 Linking Words

• Addition: in addition, furthermore, together, combined

• Contrast: whereas, in contrast, while

• Proportion language: accounted for, represented, made up

• Superlatives: the largest contributor, the least significant

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✍️ Guidelines for Writing This Essay

1. Plan (2–3 minutes)

   • Identify largest (coal, 35%).

   • Identify smallest (nuclear, 5%).

   • Group fossil fuels vs renewables.

2. Structure

   • Introduction: Paraphrase question.

   • Overview: Highlight main trends (fossil fuels dominate, nuclear least).

   • Body 1: Fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil).

   • Body 2: Renewables + nuclear.

   • Conclusion: Summarise.

3. Topic Sentences

   • “Fossil fuels together produced the majority of electricity.”

   • “By contrast, renewable sources contributed a smaller but notable proportion.”

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💡 Language Focus

• Comparisons:

  • Coal produced more than double the share of nuclear energy.

  • Gas accounted for 25%, slightly higher than hydropower at 15%.

• Verb phrases vs. Noun phrases:

  • Coal contributed 35% / Coal’s contribution was 35%.

  • Nuclear represented only 5% / Nuclear’s share was just 5%.

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🔟 Practice Exercises

Exercise A (fill-in)

1. Coal ______ 35% of electricity.

2. Nuclear was the ______ contributor at 5%.

3. Renewables together ______ nearly one-third of total power.

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Exercise B (rewrite)

1. “Coal produced 35%.” → Rewrite using a noun phrase.

2. “Gas accounted for 25%.” → Rewrite using a noun phrase.

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Exercise C (overview)

Choose the better overview:
a) Coal 35%, gas 25%, oil 10%, hydro 15%, solar + wind 20%, nuclear 5%.
b) Fossil fuels made up the majority, while nuclear was the smallest contributor.

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Exercise D (true/false)

1. Coal and gas together represented 60%.

2. Nuclear contributed the same share as oil.

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Exercise E (vocabulary match)

1. Dominant

2. Fell short of

3. Accounted for
   a) was the main part
   b) made up
   c) did not reach

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Exercise F (comparisons)

Rewrite: “Coal was 35%, nuclear was 5%” using:

• seven times as much as

• more than six times greater than

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Exercise G (spot the error)

Find the error: “Solar and wind makes up 20% of the total.”

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Exercise H (short writing)

Write one sentence comparing fossil fuels and renewables using whereas.

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Exercise I (expand)

Turn into full sentence: “Coal 35%, Hydro 15%, gap 20%.”

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Exercise J (mini-essay)

Write a 50-word overview of the pie chart.

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✅ Suggested Answers

A: 1. accounted for / contributed 2. least 3. made up
B: 1. Coal’s share was 35% 2. Gas’s share was 25%
C: b)
D: 1. True 2. False
E: 1=a, 2=c, 3=b
F: Coal produced seven times as much as nuclear. / Coal’s share was more than six times greater than nuclear’s.
G: Error: “makes” → should be “make up.”
H: Fossil fuels produced 60% of electricity, whereas renewables accounted for 35%.
I: Coal generated 35% of electricity, compared with 15% for hydro, a difference of 20%.
J: Overall, fossil fuels dominated electricity generation, led by coal, while renewables together formed a significant minority. Nuclear was by far the smallest source.

 

📊 IELTS Writing Task 1 Practice – Example 1

🎯 Question

The bar chart below shows the average daily water consumption per person in three countries in 2020.

(I’ll generate the bar chart illustration in a moment: Country A, B, C, with different values.)

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📝 Model Answer (Band 8–9, ~190 words)

The bar chart compares the average amount of water consumed per person per day in three countries in 2020.

Overall, it is clear that Country A used by far the most water, whereas Country C had the lowest consumption. Another noticeable trend is that the figure for Country A was more than double that of Country C.

According to the chart, people in Country A consumed around 400 litres per person each day. This was almost twice as high as Country B, at approximately 220 litres, and more than double Country C, where the figure was just under 180 litres.

In contrast, Country B showed moderate consumption, standing in between the other two. The gap between Country B and Country C was relatively small, only about 40 litres, compared with the much larger difference of over 200 litres between Country A and C.

In summary, while Country A recorded extremely high water use, Countries B and C showed more modest and comparable levels.

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🔑 Language of Comparison

• Superlatives: the most water / the lowest consumption / by far the highest

• Comparative structures: twice as high as / more than double / slightly higher than / much lower than

• Significant factors (Band 7+ skill): focus not on every detail, but on:

  • Highest value (Country A).

  • Lowest value (Country C).

  • Key comparison (A vs. C, A vs. B).

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✍️ Verb and Noun Phrases

• Verb phrases: consumed around 400 litres / fell sharply / increased gradually

• Noun phrases: a sharp fall / a gradual increase / a slight difference

👉 Example in our essay:

• Verb phrase: “people in Country A consumed around 400 litres”

• Noun phrase: “the gap between Country B and Country C was relatively small”

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💡 Key Writing Advice

1. Do not describe every number → focus on significant trends.

2. Always include an overview (big picture).

3. Group comparisons (A vs. B, A vs. C) rather than listing.

4. Use varied structures (not just “higher/lower”).

5. Stick to formal language — no personal opinions.

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🔟 Practice Exercises

Exercise A (fill-in-the-blank comparisons)

1. Country A consumed 400 litres, which was ________ Country C.

2. Country B used 220 litres, ________ less than Country A.

3. Country C’s figure was the ________ of the three countries.

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Exercise B (rewrite with noun phrases)

1. “The number of litres fell sharply.” → Rewrite using a noun phrase.

2. “The figure increased gradually.” → Rewrite using a noun phrase.

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Exercise C (choose the best overview sentence)

Which is the strongest overview?
a) Country A consumed 400 litres, Country B consumed 220, Country C consumed 180.
b) Overall, Country A recorded the highest consumption, while Country C used the least.

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Exercise D (true/false from chart)

1. Country A used more water than the other two combined. (True/False?)

2. The gap between Country B and Country C was about 40 litres. (True/False?)

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Exercise E (vocabulary practice)

Match the phrase with its meaning:

1. “slight difference”

2. “fell dramatically”

3. “by far the highest”
   a) the biggest number with no competition
   b) a very large decrease
   c) a small variation

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Exercise F (rephrase)

Rewrite: “Country A consumed much more water than Country C.” using:

• twice as much as

• more than double

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Exercise G (spot the mistake)

Find the error: “The consumption of Country B was more higher than Country C.”

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Exercise H (short writing)

Write one sentence comparing Country A and B using whereas.

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Exercise I (expand)

Turn this into a full sentence: “Country A = 400L, Country C = 180L, difference 220L.”

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Exercise J (mini-essay practice)

Write a 50-word overview of the chart, focusing only on key trends.

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✅ Suggested Answers

A:

1. more than double that of

2. nearly 200 litres

3. lowest

B:

1. a sharp fall

2. a gradual increase

C: b)

D:

1. False

2. True

E:
1=c, 2=b, 3=a

F:

• Country A consumed twice as much as Country C.

• Country A’s figure was more than double that of Country C.

G: Remove “more” → “higher than.”

H: Country A consumed 400 litres, whereas Country B used 220 litres.

I: Country A consumed 400 litres, compared to only 180 in Country C, a difference of 220 litres.

J: (Sample) Overall, Country A recorded by far the highest water consumption, while Country C had the lowest. Country B stood in the middle, with figures closer to C than to A.