Test 1 iy Writing Task 1 What is Writing Task 1? Task information * awriting task based on data which is presented This task requires you to recognise and select important asa graph or bar chart, or a diagram of a process, and relevant points from the data. machine or device You have to: © summarise the data you are given in at least 150 What does it test? words © expressing the information concisely and accurately © use of an appropriate academic style (formal or neutral) © accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation © clear organisation of your ideas interpret them. STRATEGIES Before you write A Reading the question Read the task below and think about the questions in boxes 1-5. This is the kind of task you will see in Writing Task 1 plan, write and check your work in 20 minutes. write about the most important parts of the data, make comparisons and contrasts as appropriate. draw attention to relevant features of the data and 1 Reod the question Corey Wha does the othe quesion fone tea You should spend about 20 minutes on ths task What ehree things The bar chart below gives information about the percentage of ere enna the population living in urban areas in the whole world and in emia different parts of the world. ‘Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the ‘main features, and make comparisons where relevant. aT Write at least 150 words. the bar chart What me i : do the three bars Jes i ser ye of ulation in urban areas repceeeale ence (2 Look ot the bar Changes in percentage of populati - .@ chart. graph or map chart Give youselt = 1950 |__ explains ts symbols. time to undetnd 82090 shag or colours) The title ges you ~ Jnlrmation obo ts oe purpose. What cos the eae arias et chart What do they you? | : 5 Look othe labels word) Ava) Aa Europe tain None | alg the xan ft Ganbbean NMTE® | the bottom) What _oeeeean sfermaton does the —_| bor chr contan? 40 | Test 1 Training Writing Task 1Eazy Writing Task 1 Review 1 What information is Writing Task 1 based on? 2 How do you have to express the information? 3 Does it matter whether you use an informal style? 6 How many words must you write? 7 Which parts of the data must you write about? 8 Should you make comparisons? 4 Are grammar, spelling and punctuation tested? 9 What should you draw attention to and interpret? 5 How long should you spend on this task? Useful language: the introduction 1 Read carefully these five introductions (1-5) to the task on page 87 written by IELTS candidates. Then answer questions a and b for each introduction. Does the candidate give enough information about the table? b Does the candidate describe the information in the table accurately? 1 Inthe table we can see some information about students enrolled at Bristol University from the year 1928 till 2008. 2 The table shows the numbers of student enrolments at Bristol University, covering the number of students, the percentages of female and male, and where they ‘came from, in three different years 3. This table shows the number of people who are studying at Bristol University and the number of people of each gender as well. Also, it shows the distance that students come from, divided into two categories: within 30 miles of Bristol and overseas. 4 The table illustrates some information about student enrolments at Bristol University. The table shows the percentages of male and female students and how ‘many students came from overseas or within 30 miles of Bristol in 1928, 1958 and 2008, 5. The table gives information about Bristol University student enrolments, the percentages of males and females and what area they came from, in the years 1928, 1958 and 2008. 2 Suggest any improvements you could make to the content of each introduction, (There are no language errors) 3-_Underine any useful words or phrases drawing attention to important data that you might use when writing about other topics. Writing Task 1 Test 2 Training | 83Useful language: drawing attention to important data 1 @ These sentences were written by IELTS candidates to describe different graphs and tables. Underline the words in each one that you could use in writing about ‘other topics. 1. Also noteworthy is the ow government expenditure on education, 2 This graph shows a striking difference betueen the younger age group and the older one. 3 The most stoking feature of the graph is the sudden increase in the populanty of computer games, 4 Another fact worth notiting in the table is Vat females are more numerous than males 5 the mest venarkable peint is that the number of males with a criminal vecord increased Aavamatically. 6 It is noticeable that evpenditure on photography remained, stable from 1992 to 2000. 2 Using the sentences in Exercise 1 as models, expand these notes into full sentences. noteworthy /fall in graduate numbers striking similarity / teenagers in the USA / teenagers in South America most striking feature / sudden decline / birth rate fact worth noticing / high cost / fossil fuels most remarkable / growth rate / increased suddenly noticeable / few schools / swimming pools Useful language: numbers and percentages 1 @ Be careful to use the appropriate nouns to report different kinds of number. Choose the correct word in these IELTS candidates’ answers. 1 In 1997 the employment figure/number was two million. 2 The data shows the difference between the percentage/percentages of men and women doing full-time jobs. In future the size/number of the population will increase sharply. In Britain people spent the smallest number/amount of money on personal stereos. 5. Cinemas expect an increasing level/number of attendance in the future across all ages. 6 Going out to restaurants decreased dramatically to seven percentage/per cent. 7 The number/quantity of people who came to Australia started to drop after 1994. 8 The graph shows that the percentage/per cent of 14- to 24-year-colds who are cinema-goers is higher than other groups. 9 We can also see that the rate/proportion of males gaining diplomas was higher than that of females. 10 Asmall part/proportion of graduates are self-employed. 11 Itcan be seen that the majority of prisoners are male as the percentage/share of prisoners who are female is only 4%. 12. The number of books published depends on the literacy rate/figure. aw 84 | Test 2 Training Writing Task 12. Write sentences using phrases 1-7 and the words in brackets. CREM es 1 iting ta 1 or sel vros 1 the rate of Unemployment unemployment (1979 and 1985) 33888888 3 the amount of Industrial eneroy energy (industry) _eonsumption 160s 7080s 5. the level of literacy (change of government) ro Change of goverment 7 the share of global share of global resources resources (the poorest countries) 1880519805, Useful language: spelling © These sentences contain 22 of the most common spelling mistakes made by IELTS candidates. How fast can you find and correct them? Give yourself one mark for spotting each mistake, another mark for putting it right correctly and deduct one 2 the proportion of the population (computers) 4 the number of cars (public transport) 6 the quantity of food (affluent parts of the world) mark for any changes you make to words that were not wrong! 1 ade al e about the enviroment is essencial and maw 's of educating childen to be aware of how they can contribute to this. Computer ownership F850 BOT BT Row (Car use Pubic transport pros Food waste 1960 7980 2000 oerments understand the 2 In my exporiease, becouse sociaty & in some respects organised diffrently i other Contries, foriegners find a celaxing to visit this part of the world. 3. Ikis my opfinion that Few people beleive the information wich is given in aavertisments, 4 Teenagers chow affect that rd drivin ean have on other vond users. ict Ue allowed to have there own cars untill they ave prepared to accept responsability for the Writing Task 1 Test 2 Training 85Useful language: finishing your summary Here are four ways (1~4) used by IELTS candidates to finish their summaries for the task on page 87. Although there are no language errors, three of them are Unsatisfactory for various reasons. Read the comments in the box and match them to the paragraphs. a Not an accurate description of what the table shows. b Statements should be supported by figures from the table. © Too vague. Its unclear what part of the data is referred to, and offers no conclusion, d Auseful contrast, well supported by data from the table. 1 Ee cometusion, the percentage increased im different ways until 2008 and Fell in otner anys. 2 itis clear that the nunber of foreign. students inerenced whereas the students who cance fron within 20 miles of Bristol decreased. Furtherinore, in 2008 the marnber of feraale students vino enrolled atthe university was muuch higher than in 2928. 3 Finally, the figures for sudert enrolment at Bristol University changed dramatically, the number of students ceached a peak in 458 but went down again between the years 1958 and 2008. Overall, the ‘numberof foreign students remained almost the tame between 28 and (#58. However it rose sharply in the rest 60 years. 4 Lastly, there is am important difference in the proportion of stuctents whe come Prom within 30 miles of Bristel ana these who come Prom overseas: at the beginning there weve Pew students coming rom overseas ana wore coming frau near the city, while by 2008 the percentage of local’ students haa really decreased (Brom SO” to 1-29), whereas the percentage ot overseas students had increased from enby 5% to 287. 86 | Test 2 Training Writing Task 1