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IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING

UNIT 1:
TASK 1: BAR CHARTS
Bar charts or bar graphs are used to compare things among different groups or
show changes over time.

Strategies
It is very important to give a one-sentence overview or summary of the main
idea in the bar chart. You will not get a Task Achievement score higher than 5 if
you do not include an overview.

With a bar chart that compares data at different times no comments can be made
about what happened between the bars, so the trends cannot be described with
words like gradually, slowly or steep. Keep those words for line graphs.

Focus
Report Structure
Task 1 reports need 2-3 paragraphs, consisting of:
a brief introduction and
one or two body paragraphs.
No conclusion is needed.
The first paragraph needs two sentences:
The first sentence is a paraphrase of the task prompt.
The second sentence is the overview.

Note: It is recommended that you put the overview the first paragraph rather
than at the end, just in case you run out of time.

Grammar Practice:
Verb forms
Present tense is used when referring to the chart, graph or diagram.
Past, present or future tenses are used when describing the trends,
depending on the time frame.

Complete these sentences by writing the past simple, present perfect

simple or past perfect simple form of the verb in brackets in each
gap.

The bar graph …………………. (indicate) how exports

…………………….(decline) since 2012.
Prior to 2014, South Korea ……………………. (be) the third leading source of
international students in the US.
The research that ………………………… (conduct) on the subject so far
…………………… (be) minimal.
In 2000, there ……………………….. (be) admissions, but by 2012 this figure
………………………… (treble).
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Between 2013 and 2015, the percentage of school leavers

…………………………. (not alter).
The graph ……………………….. (show) no change in the rate of domestic
water use between 2014 and 2016.
By 2012 the number of scholarship applications …………………………… (rise)
to over 2,000.
The incidence of malaria and dengue ……………………………… (fall) since
WHO ………………………….. (become involve) after the peace agreement
…………………………… (be sign)

Comparative and superlative forms

Task 1 tests your ability not only to identify trends but also to compare and
contrast the data. To do this you need to use comparative and superlative
adjectives.

Complete the gaps in the summary below of this graph using a comparative
or superlative form of the words in brackets.

Undergraduates Year 1: average pass rates

90%
80%
2008 2012
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Business Computer Health Humanities Maths and Science
Science Science Engineering

[Insert Cambridge English 2013 p. 28 ex. 3 graph]

The chart compares how well students from a range of disciplines did in their
Year 1 assessments in 2008 and 2012.

At just over 80% in 2012 and 70% in 2008, average pass rates among Computer
Science students were by far 1. ………………………….. (high), while 2.
………………………… (high) scores were in Maths and Engineering. On the other
hand, students studying Humanities had 3. ……………………………. (low) pass rates
in both years.
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Looking more closely at the percentage change between the years, this was
clearly 4. …………………………… (marked) for those studying Business. 2008 pass
rates in Business, Science, and Maths and Engineering were considerably 5.
………………………….. (low) than those in 2012, which means that 6.
………………………. (great) levels of improvement took place in these disciplines.
Meanwhile, the Health Sciences experienced 7. …………………………….. (stable) pass
rates.

Overall, students on 2008 did consistently 8. ……………………………… (good) than

their counterparts in 2012, although there were significant differences among
the subject areas in both years.

Exam Practice
1. The bar chart below shows how traffic accidents in Newcastle were reduced
after extra lanes were made on busy highways. Study the chart and choose the
best overview for the information shown.

Accident reductions per kilometer in Newcastle after the introduction of

extra lanes on busy highways.

18

16

14

12

10
Before
8 After

0
H1 H2 H3 H4 H5

[Insert Cambridge p.98 Ex 3.1 graph only with edits]

A. There are mixed results following the roadworks.

B. The improvements are more popular on some highways than

others.

C. The highways with the most traffic are H1 and H5.

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D. In every case, the addition of an extra lane has resulted in fewer

traffic accidents.

E. All cities should incorporate this road system.

2. Look at the Writing task below and answer these questions.

What do the figures on the vertical axis represent?

What periods of time does the graph focus on?

How do the first two columns on the chart relate to the rest of the chart?

Find three key points that you can compare on the chart.

What tenses and verb forms would you use to write your answer?

The chart below gives information about the aging population worldwide in 2000
and makes predictions for 2050.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Percentage of population aged 60 and over

40%

35% [
30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%
world Africa Asia Europe Latin North Oceania
total America America

2000 2050

Insert Cambridge English 2013 p. 102 graph only]

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Stacked Bar Charts

A stacked bar chart, also known as a stacked bar graph, is used to break down
and compare parts of a whole. Each bar in the chart represents a whole, and
segments in the bar represent different parts or categories of that whole.

Strategy

With stacked bar charts some of the data will need to be estimated.

Exam Practice
1. Study the stacked bar chart below and choose the best answer for each
question.

One hundred adults, girls and boys in Sydney, Australia were asked what sports
they participated in. The results are shown in the stacked bar chart below.

200

150

Adults
100
Boys
Girls
50

0
Basketball Swimming Tennis Football Hockey

(Insert Cambridge2014 p. 96 Ex 2-1 graph only)

i. Approximately how many adults play tennis?

A. 110 B. 45 C. 60

ii. How many girls play hockey?

A. 70 B. 125 C. 40

iii. Which sport is played by the same number of adults as girls?

A. hockey B. football C. tennis

iv. Which group appears to participate in the most sport overall?

A. girls B. boys C. adults

2. Write a suitable overview for this chart.

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Extra Exam Practice: Task 1 Bar Chart

It is recommended that you complete at these tasks at home.

1. The Bar chart shows the number of male and female people arrested by type
of offence (crime). Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the
main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Proportion of male and female arrests by offence type, 2008/09

40
35 Males
Females
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Violence Robbery Burglary Theft and Fraud and Criminal Drug Other
against the handling forgery damage offences offences
person stolen goods

1. Insert MacMillan 675 Task 1 #09

2. The chart below shows the amount of time that 10 to 15-year-olds spend
chatting on the Internet and playing on games consoles on an average school
day in the UK.

Percentages
90
80
70 4 hrs plus
60
1 to 3 hours
50
40
30
20
10
0
Boys Girls All Boys Girls All
Chatting on the internet Playing on games console

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
...
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...
TASK 2: ESSAY TO EVALUATE AN IDEA ABOUT A TOPIC
(AGREE/DISAGREE)[Link to reading text topic?]

Focus: Analysing the question

This type of question asks you to consider how true you think a prediction,
explanation or statement is.
Examples:
Some people maintain that boys are naturally better at maths than girls. To what
extent do you agree with this view?

Schools should enable students to do some work experience so that they have a
better understanding of their career options. Do you agree or disagree with this
suggestion?

Parents should allow their children to keep pets. To what extent do you agree with
this opinion?

Underline the key words in these questions.

Focus: Essay Structure

Your essay will need 4-5 paragraphs, consisting of:

Introduction: 2 sentences
Sentence 1 – paraphrase the Task 2 prompt
Sentence 2 – Indicate the structure of your essay and state your opinion or
thesis.

Body:
(2-3 paragraphs)
Develop a balanced argument
Include reevant examples

Conclusion:
(2 sentences)
Reflect on your essay points briefly.
Restate your argument in different words.

Strategy Checklist
Use trigger words like benefit/disadvantage, positive/negative to get some ideas.
Write an introduction of two sentences to develop the topic of the question and
state your opinion if necessary.
Choose the two most important ideas for the positive aspects and two for the
negative aspects.
Write a paragraph for each.
Develop your ideas in each paragraph using trigger words like because or
question words like when, how and why.
Use trigger words like for example, for instance, such as and an example of this is
to provide some examples.
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Write a conclusion in two sentences to summarize your points, highlighting the

most important and restating your opinion.

Practice
Introducing arguments
Find and correct the mistakes in these sentences.

Personally, I agree the view that music helps you relax.

Nowadays, as some teachers claimed, schools need arts subjects more than ever.

I’m tend to agree with the idea that dance helps children express themselves.

It is generally believe that drama activities should be provided for all students.

Use phrases for introducing opinions to express agreement or

disagreement with each of these views.

Art helps children to make sense of the world.

Drama classes foster creativity and self-expression.

Classical music is more relaxing than modern music.

Actors are born, not made.

Formal educations fails to encourage creative expression.

Percentage of population aged 60 and over

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%
world Africa Asia Europe Latin North Oceania
total America America

2000 2050
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[Put each example below in a box.]

1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.[Cambridge English 2014 p.
224]

In some countries an increasing number of people are suffering from health

problems as a result of eating too much fast food. It is therefore necessary for
governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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

Write at least 250 words.

How would you plan this essay?[Table to list why you think this suggestion
might and might not work]

Agree Disagree

Write the introduction.

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2. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. [MacMillan 675 Task 2 #06]

Travellers and business people often come into other culture briefly.
What are the main advantages and disadvantages of doing so?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from
yourown knowledge and experience.

Write at least 250 words.

How would you plan this essay? [Table to list advantages and disadvantages]

Advantages Disadvantages

Write the introduction for the essay.

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Extra Exam practice[Choose one]

1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. [Cambridge English 2014 p.
264]

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in
their own country. Nowadays, they have more opportunity to study abroad.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support
your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

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

Write at least 250 words.

2. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. [Collinsp. 15]

Women and men are commonly seen as having different strengths and
weaknesses. Is it right to exclude males or females from certain professions
because of their gender?

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

Write at least 250 words.

3. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. [Collinsp. 55]

New technologies and ways of buying and selling are transforming the
lives of consumers.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

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

Write at least 250 words.