IELTS Graph Writing

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Vocabulary for Describing Trends

A) Verbs and nouns for describing trends and changes:

Trend Verbs Nouns

rise (rose-risen) a rise
increase an increase
go up (went up-gone up) a growth
climb an upward trend
grow
a doubling in + n.
double a trebling in + n.
treble/triple
a boom
soar a surge
surge
boom
rocket
fall (fell-fallen) a fall
decline a decline
decrease a decrease
dip (dipped) a drop
drop (dropped) a reduction
go down (went down-gone down)
a slump
halve a plunge

plummet
slump
plunge
dive
deteriorate
do not change (did not change) no change
maintain the same level
remain/stay +
stable/steady/constant/static/unchanged
Constant
fluctuate [around] a fluctuation
Change
stand at (stood at) a levelling off
a plateau
level off (levelled off)
plateau (plateaued) hit/reach a high/peak
Position level out (levelled out) hit/reach a low
stabilise

peak
reach

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 IELTS Graph Writing

B) Adjectives and adverbs for degree of change:

Degree Adjective Adverb

dramatic dramatically
huge -
Very extensive change
enormous enormously
tremendous tremendously

substantial substantially
considerable considerably
Extensive change
significant significantly
remarkable remarkably

noticeable noticeably
Average change marked markedly
moderate moderately

slight slightly
Small change small -
minimal minimally

C) Adjectives and adverbs for speed of change:

Speed Adjective Adverb

rapid rapidly
quick quickly
Quick change sharp sharply
swift swiftly
steep steeply

steady steadily
Slow change gradual gradually
slow slowly

sudden suddenly
Unexpected change unexpected unexpectedly
abrupt abruptly

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Grammar for Describing Trends

Past tenses
Past simple:
Used for reporting consecutive trends and events in the past:

There was a significant rise in 1964.Then, the figure dipped sharply in 1980.

Past perfect:
Used for reporting what happened (e.g. the figure reached) by a given time in the past:

There was a significant rise in 1964. Then, the figure dipped sharply and had reached 5 by 1980.

Present tenses
Present simple:
Used for reporting trends that have no specific time and occur regularly (e.g every day), or
for reporting the present value or figure of a variable:

There is a significant rise at 6am every morning. Then, the figure increases sharply at 8am.

The number of people suffering from diarrhoea now stands at 158.

Present perfect:
Used for reporting trends that started in the past and have continued until the present time
or continue into the future:

There has been a significant rise since 2013, and the figure now stands at 15000.

There has been a significant rise since 2013, and the figure is expected to reach 15000 in 2020.

Future
Future forms are used to describe trends that are predicted and projected for future times
and dates. You should note that none of these predictions are certain, and therefore a level
of uncertainty is desirable in your report.

The figure will probably/likely reach 15000 in 2020.

The figure should reach 15000 in 2020.

The figure is likely to reach 15000 in 2020.

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 IELTS Graph Writing

It seems likely that the figure will reach 15000 in 2020.

Predictions
Forecasts show
Estimates reveal that the figure will increase and reach 800 in 2050.
Evaluations indicate
Calculations

predicted
expected
anticipated
that the figure will increase and reach 800 in
It is forecast
2050.
estimated
evaluated
calculated

predicted
expected
anticipated
The figure is forecast to increase and reach 800 in 2050.
estimated
evaluated
calculated

Notice how the verbs in the following paragraphs have been changed from past forms
into future forms*:

In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about 20%. The
figures for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5% respectively. In 2005,
Internet usage in both the USA and Canada rose to around 70% of the population,
while the figure for Mexico reached just over 25%.


In 2020, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA is expected to be
about
20%. The figures for Canada and Mexico are likely to be lower, at about 10% and 5%
respectively. In 2030, it is predicted that Internet usage in both the USA and Canada
will rise to around 70% of the population, while the figure for Mexico should reach just
over 25%.

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below gives information about Dubai gold sales in 2002.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The diagram illustrates how gold sales in Dubai changed over a period of 12 months.

Overall, gold sales in Dubai remained relatively unchanged at the end of 2002 despite violent
fluctuations throughout the year. Besides, they were at their highest in March while the weakest
sales figures could be observed in July and September.

In the first month of 2002, they stood at 200 million dirhams and rose slightly to reach about 225
million in February. This was followed by another increase, although much steeper, in March
when sales were almost 125 million dirhams higher than in February. However, this upward trend
was suddenly broken and sales plummeted dramatically over the next 4 months to reach a
little over 100 million dirhams in July. August sales saw a significant rise back to January levels as
figures nearly doubled, but they dropped again in September to the same level as they were in
July. There was a small increase of about 100 million dirhams in October, after which the figure
levelled off and remained relatively static over the last two months of 2002.
(182 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below shows the consumption of fish and some different kinds of meat in
a European country between 1979 and 2004.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The diagram shows how much different kinds of meat and fish was consumed in a country in
Europe from 1979 to 2004. Overall, although beef was the most popular type of meat at first,
it was replaced by chicken towards the end of the survey. In contrast, fish remained the least
significant throughout the period.

In the first year, beef was the most popular with a consumption of about 225 grams per
person per week. Then, this figure experienced a sudden plunge of 50 before surging to about
230 in 1984. Following this, there were some fluctuations until 1989, after which it decreased
dramatically to around half as high as its original level in 2004.

The figure for lamb was initially almost as high as that for chicken (around 150 grams per
person per week). However, while the former declined gradually and significantly as it reached
approximately 60 in the last year, the latter saw a considerable growth and outstripped beef
consumption in 1989, peaking at 250 in 2004.

Fish consumption was originally approximately 60 and experienced a small fall of about 10
over the period.
(183 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Comparison Language
A. Introducing Differences
a significant difference between a and b.
Generally, there is
a wide disparity in + n.

B. Comparative Structures
by x.
In contrast (to A), by a narrow margin.
1 B is larger/smaller
In comparison (with A) by a margin of x.
by a staggering x.

[just]+[under/over]
2 A is x larger/smaller than B.
[approximately]

twice
3 A is [under/over] as large/great/high as B.
two/three times

considerably/substantially
4 A is greater/higher/smaller than B.
marginally/slightly

5 A is [almost/roughly /…] as large/high as B.

more/less + uncountable n.
than B.
6 A produces/consumes/… more/fewer + countable n.
the same amount/number/quantity of + n. as B.

C. Superlative Structures
1 A is the [second/third] largest/smallest/most significant/most productive/ … + n.

2 A has the [second/third] greatest/widest/ most significant/most productive/ … + n.

proportion of + n.
Uses
quantity of + n.
3 A produces the largest/highest/smallest/lowest
amount of + uncountable n.
consumes
number of + countable n.

4 A ranks/stands first/second/third/last.

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 IELTS Graph Writing

D. Comparison and Contrast Linkers

Transitions
Over 90% of exports were fruits; however, industrial exports contributed none.

Almost all female students were interested in art activities. In contrast, the figure for male
students was a mere 15%.

Most of the farmland in Europe was damaged by overgrazing. On the other hand, the most
significant cause of damage in Asia was wind erosion.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Over 90% of exports were fruits, whereas / while industrial exports contributed none.

Whereas / While over 90% of exports were fruits, industrial exports contributed none.

Although almost all girls were interested in art activities, only 15% of boys took part in them.

E. Approximation

just over 12 percent

12.1% approximately/around/about 12%

a little more than 12%

almost/nearly 12%

approximately/around/about 12%
11.9%
a little less than 12%

just below 12%

almost/nearly 150kg

146kg approximately/around/about 150kg

less than 150kg

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The charts below give information about travel to and from the UK, and about the
most popular countries for UK residents to visit.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample Answer band 9:

The first diagram compares the number of British tourists with that of visits made to the UK
between 1979 and 1999. Initially, there was little difference between the two figures (10 and 12
million, respectively). Both rose over the next 20 years, with the figure for British tourists
experiencing a more significant surge to about 53 million. In comparison, that for visits to the
UK grew gradually to reach just over 25 million by the end of the century.

The bar chart shows the top 5 countries visited by the British in the last year of the previous
survey. While France and Spain attracted the largest numbers of British tourists with about 11
and 9 million visits respectively, Turkey was the least popular among the five, visited by only
about 30% as many British as France. Greece and the United States also accounted for about 3
and 4 million visits, respectively.

Overall, tourism from and to the United Kingdom boomed in the 1980s and 90s. Moreover, four
European countries and the US topped the list of British tourists’ favourite destinations.
(180 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The chart below shows the amount spent on six consumer goods in four
European countries.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The diagram compares how much money was spent on six different products in Germany, Italy,
France and Britain.
Overall, more money was spent on toys and photographic film than on any other product.
Also, the British were the biggest spenders in all six categories among the nations compared in
the bar chart, while the lowest spending levels were attributed to German consumers.
In Britain, the highest amount of money was spent on photographic film (more than 170
million pounds), while similar amounts were spent on personal stereos and tennis racquets
which together ranked last.
The French spent the second highest amount of money among the four nations on compact
disks, toys and photographic film, while they ranked last in personal stereos, tennis racquets
and colognes.
Italian consumers spent more money on toys than on any other product (a bit less than
£160 million), but they also paid a lot for photographic film.
Finally, Germans spent the least overall, having similar spending figures for all 6
products compared in the chart.
(170 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The chart below shows the different levels of post-school qualifications in Australia
and the proportion of men and women who held them in 1999.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer:
The bar shows the difference between the percentage of females and males in different
post-school qualifications in Australia in 1999.
Overall, women had the highest share in two qualifications, while men ranked first in three.
The highest figures for women and men were reported in undergraduate diploma and skilled
vocational diploma, respectively.
There was a significant difference between the proportions of males and females in
skilled vocational diploma, with the former standing first with 90%.
The disparity between the two figures was almost the same in undergraduate diploma and
postgraduate diploma. However, while in the former women had the highest share with
70%, men accounted for the largest percentage in the latter with 70%.
Women also ranked first in bachelor’s degree, whereas the share of men was lower by a narrow
margin (55% and 45%, respectively). In contrast, in master’s degree, the contribution of females was
2/3 as high as that of males, as the latter was responsible for the largest share with 60%.
(164 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Reporting Proportions
Representations of Common Proportions

75%  three-quarters  three out of every 4 people/penguins/patients/…

Out of every $100 spent by the Turkish, just over $30 was spent on food, beverages and
smoking products, which ranked first among the nations compared in the survey.

Other Structures

share
contribution
1 the of…
proportion
percentage

The contribution of consumer expenditure in this category was almost similar in 3

countries, namely Turkey, Spain and Ireland.

formed
accounted for
x y% of…
2 was responsible for
comprised

X contributed y% to…

Money spent on leisure and education in Turkey accounted for just below 4.5% of
spending there, which was the largest proportion among the five countries .

3 The remaining x%

The remaining 40% was allocated to a variety of other items.

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The charts below give information about world spending and population.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The pie charts compare the shares of four major items in global expenditure, as well as how
global population is distributed.
Overall, the largest proportion of money in the world is allocated to food, while transport,
housing and clothing are other significant items. Moreover, the population of Asia is
responsible for the largest group of humans.
According to the first chart, the most significant amounts are paid for food (almost a quarter of
global expenditure) and transport (almost 20%), while housing also accounts for a
considerable proportion. The least among the four is spent on clothing (merely 6 percent) and
the remaining 40% is spent on a variety of other items.
The second chart shows that there is a significant difference between the population of Asia
and that of other continents since approximately 3 out of every 5 human beings live in Asia.
Europe and the Americas share similar proportions and together are host to roughly one-third
of the world’s population, while the inhabitants of Africa form a mere one-tenth.
(170 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The three pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by a particular
UK school in 1981, 1991 and 2001.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The charts compare changes in the shares of five different items which comprised the
yearly expenses of a British school between 1981 and 2001.
Overall, while the shares of three items experienced rises, there were declines in the remaining
two. Moreover, academic staff salaries contributed the largest proportion of expenditure
throughout the survey, whereas insurance had the smallest share.
Wages paid to the teaching staff accounted for the most significant proportion of expenditure
in 1981 (40%) and went up by a quarter before declining slightly. In comparison, the salaries of
non-academic employees were responsible for less than a third of all expenses in 1981, but
their share dipped substantially by 13% over the course of these 20 years.
The share of furniture and equipment was initially as high as that of educational
resources (15%), but while the former dropped by 2/3 before rising fivefold, the latter
experienced a marked rise after which it halved, reaching just below 10%.
The contribution of insurance had risen minimally from 2% to 3% by 1991, before climbing
almost threefold in 2001.
(177 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The pie charts below show how dangerous waste products are dealt with in
three countries.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The charts compare three countries in terms of the methods they use to treat hazardous
waste products.
Overall, recycling is the most widely-used approach to treating hazardous waste in Korea, in
contrast to Sweden and the UK which rely mainly on landfills. Furthermore, the United
Kingdom employs a more varied set of waste handling schemes.
In Korea, the most significant share of dangerous waste (70%) is recycled. The second
highest proportion, 22%, is buried underground while less than half this figure is incinerated.
Sweden, on the other hand, favours landfills over the other two approaches since more than
half of all dangerous waste is buried underground. There is little difference between the shares
of recycling and burning, as the former accounts for 25% whereas the share of the latter is
lower by a margin of 5%.
The most popular method in the United Kingdom, like in Sweden, is burying which contributes
82%. The UK also dumps 8% of its waste at sea while treating a similar proportion with
chemicals to render it harmless. Incineration is responsible for a mere 2%.
(180 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The tables below give information about sales of Fairtrade*-labelled coffee and
bananas in 1999 and 2004 in five European countries.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The tables show how fairtrade coffee and banana sales changed in five countries in 2004
compared to 1999. Overall, Coffee sales rose in all countries with the highest sales observed
in Switzerland. Banana sales also rose in all but two countries, and were highest in the UK.
In 1999, the most significant coffee sales, 3 million (3m) euros were reported in Switzerland, and
they doubled in 2004. The figure for the UK was originally 50% lower than that for Switzerland
(1.5m) while sales in Denmark were slightly higher (1.8m). However, while the former rose
dramatically to 20m, the latter remained relatively stable. There was little difference between
the figures for Belgium (1m) and Sweden (0.8m), and both experienced noticeable increases
to 1.7m and 1m, respectively.
UK had the highest banana sales in both years, as they rose over threefold from 15 million
euros to 47m. Swiss sales were originally almost twice as high as those of Denmark (1 and 0.6m,
respectively), and both surged, reaching 5.5 and 4m. There was little difference between the
figures for Sweden and Belgium (2 and 1.8m, respectively), and both nearly halved to reach
about 1m in 2004.
(193 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Process:
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

Cycle:

Stage Stage
1 3

Stage
2

…and the process/procedure/cycle starts over again.

Grammar:
A. Tenses:
Generally, the present simple tense is used to report actions which regularly happen in a process.

The larvae feed on mulberry leaves for up to 6 weeks.

Sometimes, the present perfect may also be used to signify the completion of a stage.

Once the electricity has been generated, it is transmitted to the station.

B. Passive vs. Active form

I. Natural events
For events which happen autonomously in nature, such as rain, formation of clouds or erosion
of mountains, generally use the active form unless you need to shift focus from the subject to
the object of the stage.

The larvae begin forming cocoons around themselves using silk threads.

Numerous eggs are laid by a moth and hatch after 10 days.

II. Artificial events

In artificial stages, the human subjects are usually ignored so use the passive to focus on what
is being done. If the subject has also been mentioned in the diagram, add it as an "agent".

Energy is sent to the substations by means of transmission lines.

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Describing Purpose:
When you need to report the means or tool used to perform a stage, avoid using "by":

For tools: It is done using/through the use of/by means of ...

The mixture is cut into individual bricks using a wire cutter.

For ways and methods: It is done through/via/by means of ...

The oil is transferred to the refinery through a pipeline.

Linking
The First Stage
First,
Firstly,
First off,
First of all,
In the first stage,
At/In the beginning,
The first stage is when…
The process begins/starts/commences when…
The process begins with + <n./n.p.>

Middle Stages:
Next,
Then
After this/that,
Following this/that,
Afterwards,
In the following stage,
In the stage after/following this,
In the stage that follows,
Over the course of/During the next/following/second/third stage,
This is followed by + <n./n.p.>
When/After/Once <stage A>, <stage B>
<stage A>. When/Once this stage is complete, <stage
B> <stage A> before <stage B as n./n.p. or clause>
Before <stage B>, <stage A>
<stage A> after/following which <stage B>
<stage A> which is followed by <stage B as n./n.p.>

The Last Stage:

Finally,
Ultimately,
Eventually,
The last/final stage is when …
The process ends when …
The process ends with + <n./n.p.>
<stage A> before finally <stage B as n./n.p.>

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagrams below show the stages and equipment used in the cement-making
process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The diagrams show how cement and concrete are produced. Overall, there are five stages
in the production of cement, while the procedure for producing concrete from cement and
a few other simple ingredients involves a single stage.

Cement production begins when the initial raw materials, namely limestone and clay, are
crushed using two rotating drums to make a fine powder which is then mixed in a cylindrical
mixer. The next stage involves a tube-like rotating heater with a blowtorch mounted at its
bottom opening. The mixed powder is fed from the top and simultaneously heated and
blended, after which it is transferred to a grinder using a conveyor belt. There, it is milled to yield
the final cement product which is eventually packed in bags.

This cement is used as raw material in the production of concrete in a second process. An
initial mixture comprising 15% cement, 10% water, one-quarter sand and half gravel is fed into
a rotating concrete mixer where they are stirred until the concrete mix is ready for construction
purposes.

(174 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram below shows the process of using water to produce electricity.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The diagram shows the process through which water is used to produce electrical power.
Overall, hydroelectric power is generated using water from the sea through a relatively
sophisticated procedure which comprises over ten stages.
The process begins when seawater is heated by the sun and evaporates to form small clouds
in the sky. Next, they merge into a storm cloud, which then rains over the mountain. This
rainwater is gathered in the reservoir behind a dam. The following steps involve a pipe which
connects the reservoir to a turbine as well as a pump, and is controlled using a valve. Once this
valve is opened, water flows into the turbine and rotates it to produce electrical current,
following which it is pumped back into the reservoir. After this, the electricity produced by the
turbine is transferred to the transformer station through high voltage cables. The last stage is
when the electrical power is delivered to domestic and industrial consumers, as well as
educational and medical facilities.
(169 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram below shows the life cycle of the honey bee.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer band 9:

The chart illustrates the stages in the life of honey bees. It takes approximately five weeks (34 to
36 days to be exact) to complete. All in all, this life cycle is comprised of six stages from eggs
to fully mature bees.
The first stage is when the female bee lays up to a couple of oval eggs once every 72
hours. These eggs hatch between nine and ten days later, and immature bees, called
nymphs, emerge which lack the typical bee stripes.
Over the next 3 weeks nymphs experience three moulting stages, that is, they shed their skins to
allow further growth to occur: The first moulting happening 5 days after the eggs hatch, a
week after which the second one takes place. Nine days later nymphs moult for a third time
and young adult honey bees emerge, identified by their horizontally striped backs. These take
four more days to mature into larger adult bees whose backs are marked with bolder and
darker stripes, and the cycle starts over again.
(171 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram below shows the process by which bricks are manufactured for the
building industry.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Brick manufacturing

Model answer band 9

The picture illustrates the procedure for producing construction bricks from clay, sand and
water through ten rather simple stages.
It commences when raw clay is dug using a digger machine following which it is sifted
through a metal grid into finer fragments which then fall onto a conveyor belt. In the next
stage, water and sand are added and the resulting mixture is either pushed through a frame
and cut into simple bricks, or is moulded into specially-formed bricks.
These are then placed in a special oven for two to three days in order to minimise their
moisture content. The following three stages involve the use of a couple of kilns and a cooling
chamber: bricks are first heated moderately in the first kiln to reach a temperature of between
200 and 980 degrees centigrade before being subjected to higher temperatures (870 to 1300
degrees) in the second one. Next, they are allowed to cool down for two to three days in the
cooling chamber. The process ends with the bricks being packed on pallets and delivered to
end users on trucks.
(182 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram gives information about the process for making pulp and paper.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Model answer band 9

The diagram shows the process through which wood is used to manufacture pulp and paper
for printing and box production purposes. Overall, it is rather sophisticated and is comprised
of more than ten stages.
The process begins when trees are cut down to produce logs, after which they are chipped
and combined with purchased wood chips in a digester. The resulting pulp is then washed
and screened to make clean pulp.
This pulp can then be used to produce rough paper for making boxes. After forming the pulp
in a former device, it is dried and formed into a reel. Next, it is cut into paper bales which are
finally packed.
Alternatively, the clean pulp may be used to make refined paper for printing purposes. Once it
is cleaned in pulp cleaners, it is dried and pressed, first in pulp presses and then in paper
presses. Ultimately, it goes through another drying stage in paper dryers before being rolled.
(159 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Describing Position and Location:

… lies/is situated/is located/is sited + to the right of/to the north of/around/below/inside/near

… … is connected to … via/through/by means of …

north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest

at the top/bottom

on the right/left side

in the top/bottom right/left hand corner

10 miles from

10 miles to the right of

10 miles north of

in the middle

at the centre

along

off

across [from]

opposite

close to

adjacent to

next to

beside

… is covered with …

Examples:

The suggested location, S2, is right in the town centre.

The first site is locate in the countryside northwest of Garlsdon.
The first potential location (S1) is outside the town itself, and is sited just off the main road to
the town of Hindon, lying 12 kilometres to the north-west.
The population of Garlsdon is 65000.  Garlsdon has a population of 65000.
There are two main roads running through the town from east to west and northeast to
southwest.

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Master IELTS Visuals | Ebrahim Tahassoni

Useful Vocabulary for Describing Maps:

Residential area: an area that has lots of houses and some schools.
Industrial area: an area that has lots of factories
Commercial area: an area that has lots of stores

Hospital: a health facility where patients receive treatment

Zoo: a place where people can go and see many kinds of animals
Post office: a place where you can send mail (letters and packages)
Fire station: a station housing fire apparatus and firemen
Airport: an airfield equipped with control tower and hangers as well as accommodations for
passengers and cargo
Park: a recreational area where people can play football and have picnics
Skyscraper: a very tall building

Warehouse: a building where things are kept until they are sold.
Parking lot: an area where people can park cars
Museum: a place that displays things of scientific or historical or artistic value
Supermarket: a large store that sells mostly food but sometimes other items such as clothes
and furniture.
Factory: an industrial plant, a production facility,

Woodland: an area with lots of trees

River: a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
Street: the place where cars drive
Intersection: the point where several streets meet.

Recreation: an activity that is exciting, stimulating or relaxing. For example, bike riding
and playing football are recreational activities.

Proximity: closeness
Remove: remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, taking off, etc.
Develop: to make
Change: modify
Construct: to build
Relocate: to move a structure or facility to a different location
Demolish: to destroy a building or other structure completely
Replace: to take the place of or substitute for somebody or something
Expand: to become or make something become larger

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The map below is of the town of Garlsdon and shows two possible sites for a
new supermarket.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Model answer band 9:

The map shows two proposed locations for a new supermarket for the town of Garlsdon.
Overall, neither site is appropriate for all the towns, but for customers in Cransdon, Hindon
and Garlsdon, the out-of-town site (S1) would probably offer more advantages.
The first potential location (S1) is outside the town itself, and is sited just off the main road to
the town of Hindon, lying 12 kilometres to the north-west. This site is in the countryside and so
would be able to accommodate a lot of car parking. This would make it accessible to
shoppers from both Hindon and Garlsdon who could travel by car. Since it is also close to the
railway line linking the two towns to Cransdon (25 km to the south-east), a potentially large
number of shoppers would also be able to travel by train.
In contrast, the suggested location, S2, is right in the town centre, which would be good for
local residents. Theoretically the store could be accessed by road or rail from the surrounding
towns, including Bransdon, but as the central area is a no-traffic zone, cars would be unable
to park and access would be difficult.
(194 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Chorleywood is a village near London whose population has increased steadily since the
middle of the nineteenth century. The map below shows the development of the village.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Model Answer band 9:

The map shows how a village called Chorleywood developed over a period of 126 years.
Overall, it saw considerable growth, both in the establishment of new residential areas
and transportation routes, which occurred over four phases.
From 1868 to 1883 there were only two main roads in the region with Chorleywood covering a
small area along one of them. Over the next 40 years, the village grew southward alongside
the road and a railway was built in 1909 passing through this part. Chorleywood station is also
located in this area of the village.
Over the period between 1922 and 1970, the railway was the line along which Chorleywood
expanded, both towards the east and west. However, a motorway was constructed in 1970
parallel to one of the main roads and further development of the village occurred around its
intersections with the other main road and the railway between 1970 and 1994. Furthermore,
Chorleywood Park and Golf course is now located in an area enclosed by the two main
roads, the railway and this motorway.
(174 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagrams below show the site of a school in 2004 and the plan for changes to
the school site in 2024.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Model Answer band 9:

The maps illustrate how a school site is planned to be developed over a 20-year period.
Overall, there will be extensive developments with regards to construction of buildings, facilities
and roads in the school site, and the number of students will also increase significantly.
In 2004, there was only one car park to the west of the site where the main entrance to the
school was located. There were also two school buildings, accommodating 600 students
altogether, separated by a path running from the main entrance to the sports field in the
east. The school was surrounded by woodland in the north, south and east.
There are plans to increase the number of students served by the school is by 400 in 2024. As a
result, a new school building will replace the old sports field, and the two original buildings are
going to be joined together. The old path will then connect these to the new building number
3, no longer running to the main entrance. Furthermore, a part of the woodland in the east is
planned to be deforested and replaced by a new car park as well as a new, smaller sports
field. Finally, a new road will be paved passing south of the school building, which will connect
the two car parks.
(216 words)

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 IELTS Graph Writing

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

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.
Write at least 150 words.

Model Answer band 9:

The maps illustrate how an island has changed following the development of various
facilities for visitors.
Overall, there have been significant constructions in the island in terms of accommodation
and facilities for tourists. It is noteworthy that these developments have occurred without any
noticeable damage to the trees.
The length of the island is over 1200 metres while its width varies from about 200 to 500 metres
in different places. Originally, there was a beach to the left of the island, and the eastern and
western parts were covered with woodland, apart from which the island was completely bare.
In comparison, swimming facilities have now been built in the beach. Furthermore, the western
woodland is surrounded by a series of huts which are connected to each other and to the
beach via footpaths. There is also a restaurant in northern part which is connected to a
reception building in the middle of the island as well as a new pier to the south by means of a
vehicle track. Finally, a larger set of huts have been constructed between the reception and
the eastern woodland.
(185 words)

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