IELTS Writing Task 1 #104
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart below shows shares of expenditures for five major categories in the United States,
Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in the year 2009.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
Write at least 150 words.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Test Tip
In Writing Task 1, it is a good idea to end your answer by summarizing the main information shown by the
diagram. You are not required to explain this information.
Read the following sample answer. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with the words in the box.
by contrast
indicates
lowest
compares
overall
whereas
except
higher
highest
however
largest
among
The bar chart ........... how consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated
different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.
We can see that the United States had the ........... housing expenditure share, 26% of total expenditures in
2009. The United Kingdom and Japan followed, with 24% and 22%, respectively. Canada had the ...........
housing share at 21%. Housing was the ........... expenditure component in all countries ........... Japan.
..........., Canada had the largest transportation share of all four countries at 20%. The United States and the
United Kingdom had the next-highest transportation shares, 17% and 15%, respectively. Japan had the
lowest, at 10%.
..........., in Japan, consumers spent 23% of their total expenditures on food in 2009. The United Kingdom
had the second-highest share at 20%. Canada, with 15%, and the United States, with 14% had the lowest
food expenditure shares among the countries studied.
..........., the data ........... that housing and health care shares of total expenditures were ........... in the United
States than in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009, ........... Americans had the lowest clothing
share. Canada had the highest clothing and transportation shares, and Japan had the highest food share,
........... the countries compared.
IELTS Writing Task 1 #99
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The line graph below gives information about the number of visitors to three London museums
between June and September 2013.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Test Tip
Check the horizontal axis to find whether the graph refers to past, present, future or all three.
We use the present simple to describe the graph: The graph shows … , We can see …
If the graph refers to past period of time, we use the past simple, and if the graph includes future times, we
use will or it is predicted that.
Look at the line graph and complete the text with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets and the correct
prepositions.
The graph ........... (show) how many people ........... (visit) three London museums in the summer
of 2013. Most visitors ........... (go) to the British museum ........... June and September. The number
........... (fluctuate) between 500 and 750. By contrast, the Science Museum and the Natural History
Museum ........... (receive) fewer visitors. The number of people who visited the Science Museum
........... (drop) gradually from 400 thousand to 300 from June to August then ........... (rise) to 450
thousand ........... September. We can ........... (see) that the trend for the Natural History Museum
........... (be) similar. There was a sharp drop in visitors from June to July. The number ...........
(remain stable) in August and then ........... (increase) steadily in September.
Key
The bar chart compares how consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated
different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.
We can see that the United States had the highest housing expenditure share, 26% of total expenditures in 2009.
The United Kingdom and Japan followed, with 24% and 22%, respectively. Canada had the lowest housing share at
21%. Housing was the largest expenditure component in all countries except Japan.
By contrast, Canada had the largest transportation share of all four countries at 20%. The United States and the
United Kingdom had the next-highest transportation shares, 17% and 15%, respectively. Japan had the lowest, at
10%.
However, in Japan, consumers spent 23% of their total expenditures on food in 2009. The United Kingdom had the
second-highest share at 20%. Canada, with 15%, and the United States, with 14% had the lowest food expenditure
shares among the countries studied.
Overall, the data indicates that housing and health care shares of total expenditures were higher in the United
States than in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009, whereas Americans had the lowest clothing share.
Canada had the highest clothing and transportation shares, and Japan had the highest food share, among the
countries compared.
***
Look at the line graph and complete the text with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets and the correct
prepositions.
The graph shows (show) how many people visited (visit) three London museums in the summer of 2013.
Most visitors went (go) to the British museum between June and September. The number fluctuated
(fluctuate) between 500 and 750. By contrast, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum
received (receive) fewer visitors. The number of people who visited the Science Museum dropped (drop)
gradually from 400 thousand to 300 from June to August then rose (rise) to 450 thousand in September. We
can see (see) that the trend for the Natural History Museum was (be) similar. There was a sharp drop in
visitors from June to July. The number remained stable (remain stable) in August and then increased
(increase) steadily in September.