Writing task 1s Flashcards
The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The two maps show the same island while first one is before and the second one is after the construction for tourism.
Looking first at the one before construction, we can see a huge island with a beach in the west. The total length of the island is approximately 250 metres.
Moving on to the second map, we can see that there are lots of buildings on the island. There are two areas of accommodation. One is in the west near the beach while the other one is in the centre of the island. Between them, there is a restaurant in the north and a central reception block, which is surrounded by a vehicle track. This track also goes down to the pier where people can go sailing in the south sea of the island. Furthermore, tourists can swim near the beach in the west. A footpath connecting the western accommodation units also leads to the beach.
Overall, comparing the two maps, there are significant changes after this development. Not only lots of facilities are built on the island, but also the sea is used for activities. The new island has become a good place for tourism.
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:
This answer clearly presents the key features of the diagrams, and although the first map is described only briefly, this is acceptable for this particular task. The description is accurate though some aspects, such as the section on the accommodation, could have been more fully extended. The final paragraph summarises the main points effectively. The information is logically organised and can be easily followed throughout the response. A range of cohesive devices including reference and substitution is used appropriately, with only occasional inaccuracies. Some less common vocabulary and collocations are used appropriately, e.g. central reception block; western accommodation units, and there are no spelling errors. There is a variety of grammatical structures and many sentences contain no inaccuracies.
Where errors do occur, they do not affect understanding.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below shows the total number of minutes (in billions) of telephone calls in the UK, divided into three categories, from 1995-2002.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The chart shows the time spent by UK residents on different types of telephone calls between 1995 and 2002.
Local fixed line calls were the highest throughout the period, rising from 72 billion minutes in 1995 to just under 90 billion in 1998. After peaking at 90 billion the following year, these calls had fallen back to the 1995 figure by 2002.
National and international fixed line calls grew steadily from 38 billion to 61 billion at the end of the period in question, though the growth slowed over the last two years.
There was a dramatic increase in mobile calls from 2 billion to 46 billion minutes.
This rise was particularly noticeable between 1999 and 2002, during which time the use of mobile phones tripled.
To sum up, although local fixed line calls were still the most popular in 2002, the gap between the three categories had narrowed considerably over the second half of the period in question.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below gives information from a 2008 report about consumption of energy in the USA since 1980 with projections until 2030.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The graph shows energy consumption in the US from 1980 to 2012, and projected consumption to 2030.
Petrol and oil are the dominant fuel sources throughout this period, with 35 quadrillion (35g) units used in 1980, rising to 42q in 2012. Despite some initial fluctuation, from 1995 there was a steady increase. This is expected to continue, reaching 47g in 2030.
Consumption of energy derived from natural gas and coal is similar over the period. From 20q and 15g respectively in 1980, gas showed an initial fall and coal a gradual increase, with the two fuels equal between 1985 and 1990. Consumption has fluctuated since 1990 but both now provide 24g. Coal is predicted to increase steadily to 31q in 2030, whereas after 2014, gas will remain stable at 25g.
In 1980, energy from nuclear, hydro- and solar/wind power was equal at only 4q.
Nuclear has risen by 3q, and solar/wind by 2. After slight increases, hydropower has fallen back to the 1980 figure. It is expected to maintain this level until 2030, while the others should rise slightly after 2025.
Overall, the US will continue to rely on fossil fuels, with sustainable and nuclear energy sources remaining relatively insignificant.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.0 score.
The line graph illustrates the proportion of urban citizens in Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020, with the expected population in 2030 and 2040.
Overall, it can be easily seen that all four countries has a dramatic rise in population, starting at the lowest point in 1970 and being projected to reach the peak in 2040.
Malaysia and Indonesia saw a slightly rise in population, respectively from 30 to about 45 and around 12 to over 20 percent from 1970 to 1990. After that, both countries has climbed rapidly until now before being predicted to continue increasing for the next 20 years.
After almost remaining in the 70s, Philippines percentage increased dramatically to reach about 47 percent on 1990 and dropped to 40% in 2010. Then, this country faced slightly rise in 2020.
Meanwhile, Thailand reached approximate 30% in 1990 and saw not much changes until 2020. Both two countries are projected to increase in population in 2030 and 2040.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
This response covers the requirements of the task. There is an overview in the second paragraph and key features are presented for each country, with main trends identified.
Ideas are grouped together with a clear overall progression: countries with a similar trend are presented in the same paragraph, first Malaysia and Indonesia, then Thailand and the Philippines. There is some effective use of linkers [Overall | After that Meanwhile] and other cohesive devices [respectively | this country], but a few errors remain [Both two].
Vocabulary includes a range, with some less common examples [proportion I expected population | dramatic rise | projected to reach the peak]. There are some errors [slightly I slight | almost remaining | approximate / approximately], which do not impede communication.
The mix of grammatical structures is good, with some complex sentence forms [being predicted to continue increasing for the next 20 years]. Some errors remain, but they rarely reduce communication.
To improve the Band Score for this response, there could be more detail on the similarity of the trends on the graph, more detail on data from 1990 onwards and fewer errors in spelling and grammar. However, this is a good response that does address the requirements of the task.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram below shows the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer.
The diagrams show Central Library before and after changes were made to its layout.
Clearly, the library has been updated to include dedicated spaces for events and now has an open space in the centre.
Twenty years ago, to the left of the entrance there was a reading room with newspapers and magazines and to the right there was an enquiry desk. Now there’s a computer room on the left and a café where the information desk once was. Adult fiction has moved to the right-hand side of the room and all reference books are now on the left. There is a smaller information desk with self-service machines in what once was the adult non -fiction section.
There was a room at the back left-hand corner that had computer games, CDs and videos that has since been enlarged and houses children’s fiction. It has a space with two sofas where storytelling events are held. There is a lecture room in the back right-hand corner where children’s books used to be.
Here are comments from another examiner:
This response covers the main changes that have occurred over the 20-year period.
An overview is presented in the second paragraph which is quite general: it refers to the [dedicated spaces for events] but this could be improved by giving a summary of the key changes (dedicated spaces for events, self-service facilities and a care).
Ideas are arranged logically: the changes to the front of the library are presented in the third paragraph and the changes to the back section in the final paragraph.
This shows a logical approach to reporting the changes and there is some good cohesion [once was | now on the left | has since been].
There is a good range of vocabulary. In this kind of task, vocabulary from the floor plan needs to be used to report the changes, but the use of different words shows some flexibility and precision [been updated dedicated spaces | houses].
In terms of grammar, there are error-free sentences and some variation in structures used when describing changes [has been updated | what once was has since been enlarged].
The response could be improved by extending the overview to include more of a summary of the main changes but overall, this response captures the main changes in a logical way.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the average monthly change in the prices of three metals during 2014.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer.
From the line graph, we can see the average monthly rise or fall in how much copper, nickel and zinc cost throughout 2014.
Overall, nickel started with the highest percentage change of the three but ended with the lowest.
Zinc started with the smallest change and ended with the highest, and copper prices fluctuated.
Prices for all three metals dipped in June.
In January the price of nickel was up six per cent, but this dropped to negative three percent in June, ending the year with a one percent increase in both November and December. Copper began the year with an increase of two percent and by May, the price was dropping by slightly less than one per cent). It rose again, increasing by a percentage point in July, August and September. Zinc saw its most dramatic increase in February, with three per cent and the price fell in June (a one percent decrease). The change was negative until October/November when it began to rise.
Here are comments from another examiner:
This response reports the main data for each of the three metals. There is an introduction in the first paragraph and an overview in the second, followed by the presentation of the main trends of all three categories in the third. Some details are missing (copper after September and no percentage changes for any metal from July to September).
The candidate identifies the ‘dip’ for all three in June, but to score more highly, they could also have mentioned that overall, percentage changes fell at the beginning of the year, remained static from July to September and rose after October to the end of the year.
Information is arranged coherently; each metal is taken in turn for data reporting.
There is good use of cohesive devices [Overall | but | with | when], but there could be more.
Vocabulary is adequate with some attempts to use less common items [fluctuated dramatic increase] and attempts to use synonyms [ended with the lowest I dipped I dropped].
There is a lack of complex structures, as most sentences are simple or compound.
However, there is some variety in structures, including comparatives [highest | smallest | most dramatic] and continuous tenses [was dropping].
To improve the response, the candidate could extend the overview to reflect some common trends and should include some of the missing details.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The plans below show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.5 score.
The South West airport had some changes after its redevelopment. The departures area was modified to have a bag drop service, along with a cafe and check- in module that were already there before the redevelopment. However, both the cafe and the check-in module changed places to make room for the bag drop. After going through security passport control, passengers and airport staff will be able to purchase stuff at the new stores before their flight. After doing some shopping, the boarding gates wait ahead. There are now 18 gates, which were & before the redevelopment. For this reason, the walkaway installed between the gates has been replaced for a sky train, which will be able to transport people along the different gates. But if you’re not leaving the South West airport, you’ll be glad to know the arrivals area has also been redeveloped. After going through passport control customs, passengers and airport staff will be able to hire different services. This area was empty before the redevelopment, but now it has an ATM, a cafe and a car hire service that will gladly take you to your destination.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
This response covers the key details required; however, it describes the changes in the past tense instead of using future verb forms for the development ‘next year’.
Overall, it could be improved by adding a summary of the main changes.
The response has been organised logically by describing the changes to the journey through the redeveloped airport: firstly departures, then arrivals. There are some good cohesive features [However | After | But] and some referencing [which | This area]. Organisation could be improved by breaking the response down into two or three paragraphs.
Vocabulary is a strength, with some effective collocation [changed places | take you to your destination] and flexibility [modified | installed between].
In terms of grammar, this response has a variety of structures, but it describes some of the changes in the past simple [was modified] and in the present perfect [has been replaced by] whereas the question asked for a description of the future changes. To improve the score, there should be a wider range of future structures to address the changes ‘next year’
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table and charts below give information on the police budget for 2017 and 2018 in one area of Britain. The table shows where the money came from and the charts show how it was distributed.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7.5 score.
The table illustrates the data on the police budget in which the money came from and the two pie charts describe the distribution of the amount of money in the two of year 2017 and 2018 in an area of Britain. Overall, there was an upward trend in all three different sources while the money spent on salaries was always the majority of contribution.
Looking into more details, the highest amount of money on the police budget belonged to National Government’, 15.5 million pounds in 2017 and it kept rising to 177.8 million pounds. Thus was followed by ‘Local Taxes’, at 91.2 million pounds in 2017, after one year, it increase significantly to 102.3 million pounds.
In term of the how the money was spent, the majority of police budget goes to salaries which was for officers and staff, dropping slightly from 75% in 2017 to 69% in 2018. Meanwhile, the proportion of ‘Buildings and transport’ remained constantly, at 17% each year. An opposite pattern can be seen in the category of technology, its figure rose sharply from 8% in 2017 to 14% in 2018, which was always the lowest rate during the given period.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
This is a strong response. The candidate provides a clear overview at the end of the first paragraph which highlights the consistently increasing trend from the table and identifies the largest category from the pie charts. Full details are given for the first two sources of the budget but, to achieve a higher rating, key features in the table could be more fully extended.
Information is presented in the order of the table first and then the charts, in a logical manner. The test taker demonstrates a good range of cohesive devices [while which was] and uses three paragraphs appropriately to organise and sequence the required data.
There is a wide range of vocabulary [figure rose sharply | during the given period] with accurate spelling, although there are occasional errors in word choice. The range of grammatical structures is wide, including modal [can] and continuous forms [kept rising] - although there are occasional errors e.g. using present tenses [goes on] to describe data from 2017 and 2018.
To improve this response, the key features presented from the table could be more fully extended. The candidate could also reduce the few errors in sentence structure.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the number of shops that closed and the number of new shops that opened in one country between 2011 and 2018.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7.5 score.
The line graph shows trends in shop closures and openings of new shops in a particular country between the years 20ll and 2018.
In 2011 approximately 6,400 shops closed. The number of closures fluctuated over the next four years until 2015, when there was a dramatic fall in closures to roughly 700 shops. The following year the number of shops closing their doors rose sharply, reaching over 5,000. The figures remained steady for the next two years, with just over 5,000 closures in 2018.
The number of new shops opening decreased dramatically between 2011 (approximately 8,500) and 2012 (just under 4,000) but rebounded by roughly 50% by 2014. In 2015, the number of openings then fell to the 2012 level, but remained stable for the next two years. The last recorded year, 2018, saw a further fall to 3,000 new openings, the lowest point in this seven year period.
Overall, the number of shop closures has remained within the 5,000 to 7,000 range (with the exception of 2015). In contrast, new shop openings have shown a wider range of figures, but generally indicate a downward trend over the same period.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
This is a strong response which provides a clear overview in the final paragraph.
Data is presented and key features are highlighted appropriately. Closures are dealt with first, and the details are clearly presented, including the [dramatic fall] key feature. Shop openings are dealt with separately, in similar detail. Key peaks and low points are appropriately flagged.
For the highest task score, there could be more detail provided during the periods of [fluctuation] between 2011 to 2014 and 2016 to 2018.
Ideas are logically organised, taking each line on the graph in turn, and paragraphing is used appropriately, apart from the single sentence first paragraph.
Cohesion is well managed.
The range of vocabulary is wide, with some skilful use [rebounded by roughly I further fall | exception of]. The grammar includes a variety of complex structures, with numerous long sentences containing a number of clauses. This is a good example of a higher-level response to this Task 1 question.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7.0 score.
The graph displays the statistics of (the number at tourists visiting a particular carribean island between (the years) 2010 and 2017) in the year 2010, there were a quarter of a million visitors that stayed on cruise ships, while another 150000 visitors were staying on island that totals up to a million of visitors during that year. The following year, which is 2011, half a million visitors stayed on cruise ships for the visitors who were staying on the island, the graph doesn’t show and decrease or an increase because the number was the same as the previous year, which is 750000 visitors. Total visitors for that year was I million and a quarter visitors. Moving on, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships decreased to 250000 visitors in the year 2012 while the number of visitors staying on island increased to 1250000 people. This sums up to an amount of 1500000 visitors that year.
In the year 2013, 500000 visitors stayed on cruise ships while 1500000 visitors stayed on island that adds up to 2 million visitors that year. During the next year which is 2014, a total at one million visitors stayed on cruise ships while the same number of visitors staying on island remained consistent which is 1500000 people, totalling up to two million and a half visitors that year. For the year 2015, 1250000 visitors were staying on cruise ships and 1500000 tourists were staying on island, showing no changes from the previous year. The total of tourists in that year increased to 2750000 visitors. The total number of visitors remained the same in the following year which is
2016 where it summed up 1500000 visitors staying on cruise ships and 1250000 visitors staying on island. In the final year. 2017, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships and staying on island increase to three and a half million of visitors. The graph showed an increase of half a million for the number of visitors staying on cruise ships which totals up to two million visitors. As for the number of visitors staying on island, the graph also increased for a quarter million which adds up to a total of 1500000 visitors that year.
Through the years, the number of visitors staying on cruise ships showed an unstable increase and decrease for the first four years, but continued to increase in the next year onwards. As for the number of visitors staying on island, there was no progress of increase or decrease in the first two years which are 2010 and 2011 but the graph rose until it remained constant for three consecutive years in a row. The number of visitors then slacked off in the year 2016, but managed to increase to the same level as the year before the previous in 2017. All in all, the graph showed an outstanding performance for the total number of visitors throughout 2011 to 2017, where it increased gradually every single year except from 2015 to 2016 where it remained constant.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
This is a full and detailed description of the data contained in the graph, supplemented by a comparison of the variations in the numbers for the two types of visitors (staying on cruise ships or staying on the island). There is a clear overview at the end of the description. Organisation is fairly clear and progresses logically across the time period, although it could be improved by subdividing the rather long second paragraph. The range of vocabulary is wide enough to show some variety of expression [adds up to | totals up tol and some use of collocation [three … vears in a row!. There is a high level of accuracy in grammatical control, in both simple and complex structures, but there is an omission of a full stop between the first and second sentences and no capital letter to indicate the beginning of the new sentence.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7.0 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:
The two maps of the centre of the towns of Islip give information about the city currently and in the future. Overall, a lot of modifications can be observed during the forecast development.
First of all, according to the current map the centre is close to a countryside. A main road deserves houses, a school, several shops and a park.
Looking more closely at the map predicking the future development of the city, a lot of modifications can be observed. The size of the centre will increase in an Oval Shape; therefore the countryside will disappear. Moreover, the single road will be replaced by a bigger dual carriageway. A pedestrian way will deserve the central area. New houses will be built with new facilities such as a bus station and a parking. The shops will be grouped in a shopping mall. The next point is the garden ared which will be smaller. As the city will have more people the school will be bigger.
To sum up, between the actual map of Islip town centre and the future planned development, a lot of modifications are predicked. On the one hand the city will be bigger with more facilities. On the other hand the park will be reduced and the countryside will disappear. The city will have changed a great deal.
The candidate covers all the key features and presents a clear overview of the developments planned. Information and ideas are logically organised and there is a clear progression throughout the response. A range of cohesive devices is used flexibly [currently | Overall | First of all | therefore | Moreover | The next point I To sum up]. Lexical choice shows flexibility and precision, and includes less common items [modifications predicting grouped in a shopping mall], though there is some inappropriate word choice [deserves]. A range of grammatical structures is used flexibly and accurately and error-free sentences are frequent.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart below shows estimated world illiteracy rates by region and by gender for the last year.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
Band 7
The bar chart shows the rate of illiteracy in different parts of the world, broken down into men and women last year. Overall, we can see that there is big difference in different parts of the world but that woman are much less likely to be able to be literate.
We can see that people living in Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Arab States are much more likely to be illiterate. Approximately half women in these countries is unable to read or write with the figure as high as 56% in South Asia. However, the figure for men is lower, at around 30%. However, this is still high.
In contrast,in other countries the vast majority of people read and write. In developed countries nearly everybody is literate. However, there are slight more women with illiteracy than men. In East Asia and Oceania it is clear that there is big difference between men and women. Less than ten percent of men are illiterate but for women the figure is more than double at 20%.
Band 8
The bar chart shows global rates of illiteracy broken down by gender and also area for last year. It is clear that some areas have a much higher proportion of people who are unable to read or write.
It is interesting to note that approximately half of women in South Asia, Arab States and Sub Saharan Africa cannot read or write with the majority of women in south Asia and the Arab states are illiterate. This is compared with roughly a third of men.
In the rest of the world rates of illiteracy are much lower with nearly everybody living in developed countries being able to read and write, falling to approximately 90% in Latin American and Caribbean countries. However, there are more illiterate women than men, especially in East Asia/Oceania.
Overall, although there are great disparations in literacy across the globe, women are much less likely to be able to read or write.
Band 7
The bar chart shows the rate of illiteracy in different parts of the world, broken down into men and women last year. Overall, we can see that there is a big difference in different parts of the world but that women are much less likely to be able to be literate.
We can see that people living in Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Arab States are much more likely to be illiterate. Approximately half women in these countries is unable to read or write with the figure as high as 56% in South Asia. However, the figure for men is lower, at around 30%. However, this is still high.
In contrast, in other countries the vast majority of people read and write. In developed countries nearly everybody is literate. However, there are slight more women with illiteracy than men. In East Asia and Oceania it is clear that there is big difference between men and women. Less than ten percent of men are illiterate but for women the figure is more than double at 20%.
Band 8
The bar chart shows global rates of illiteracy broken down by gender and also area for last year. It is clear that some areas have a much higher proportion of people who are unable to read or write.
It is interesting to note that approximately half of women in South Asia, Arab States and Sub Saharan Africa cannot read or write with the majority of women in south Asia and the Arab states are illiterate. This is compared with roughly a third of men.
In the rest of the world rates of illiteracy are much lower with nearly everybody living in developed countries being able to read and write, falling to approximately 90% in Latin American and Caribbean countries. However, there are more illiterate women than men, especially in East Asia/Oceania.
Overall, although there are great disparations in literacy across the globe, women are much less likely to be able to read or write.
