This is an IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample answer from the IELTS Cambridge books and it’s one of the easiest task 1s that I have ever seen on IELTS. But that’s a great opportunity for you to do an amazing job on it!

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To impress the examiner on Task 1 writing, you not only need to describe all the data well but you need to use really strong vocabulary and grammar in a clear structure.

This graph is simple but it is a real challenge to describe it well. Even if you know what you have to do, it is always a challenge to actually do it.

Read on for analysis of what I did with it as well as some vocabulary that you can easily apply to your writing, links and more!

Here are some of my other writing samples for Task 2 and Task 1.

Enjoy!

Dave

 

IELTS Writing Task 1: Bar Chart Owned and Rented Households (IELTS Cambridge 13) by Dave (former IELTS examiner)

 

The chart below shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accomodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

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

IELTS Cambrdige 13 Writing Task 1: Households England and Wales

IELTS Cambrdige 13 Writing Task 1: Households England and Wales

 

The presented bar chart illustrates percentages of owned and rented English and Welsh accomodation from 1918 to 2011. Overall, owning and renting showed opposite trends with a sharp increase in ownership and a reciprocal decline in the percentage of renters. By the end of the period, overall ownership had overtaken renting by a wide margin.

In 1918, household ownership stood at around 23% compared to rentals, which were at nearly 80%. From that point there was a steady rise in ownership and decline in rentals. Rentals reached 69% in 1939 and held steady until 1953 before falling to 59% in 1961. Ownership rose to 31% in 1939, remained there in 1953 before becoming even with rentals at 50% each in 1971.

This trend continued for both percentages with rentals declining sharply to 40% and 31% in 1981 and 1991, respectively. Likewise, ownership rose to 60% and 69% in the same years. In 2001, the falling rate of rentals slackened to 31% (69% for ownership) and there was a small rebound that bucked the trend at the end of period with rented houses rising to nearly 40% and owned houses dipping to just over 60%.

 

Analysis

1. The presented diagram illustrates percentages of owned and rented English and Welsh accomodation from 1918 to 2011. 2. Overall, owning and renting showed opposite trends with a sharp increase in ownership and a reciprocal decline in the percentage of renters. 3. By the end of the period, overall ownership had overtaken renting by a wide margin.

1. The first sentence simply paraphrases (changes some of the words) from the task question. Don’t waste time on this sentence – write it as fast as your hand will move and the pencil will write without setting the paper on fire!

2. The second sentence is the most important sentence of the whole task, the whole writing test, all of IELTS and your entire life! My general overview covers the main trend (for both categories). You can read more about how to write an overview here.

3. The third sentence finishes my overview. Overviews should only be about 2, maximum 3 sentences, long. Do not mention any specific data or give any opinion/speculation.

1. In 1918, household ownership stood at around 23% compared to rentals, which were at nearly 80%. 2. From that point there was a steady rise in ownership and decline in rentals. 3. Rentals reached 69% in 1939 and held steady until 1953 before falling to 59% in 1961. 4. Ownership rose to 31% in 1939, remained there in 1953 before becoming even with rentals at 50% each in 1971.

1. I start with the logical place – the first year. I compare the rentals and ownership in that year. Every single sentence you write should have some sort of comparision. No exceptions!

2. My second sentence summarises the trend that I will continue to detail.

3. My third sentence gives the specific data and years. Always, always include the year and the key data or you could end up with a 5 for task achievement!

4. My fourth sentence continues the comparision of specific data.

1. This trend continued for both percentages with rentals declining sharply to 40% and 31% in 1981 and 1991, respectively. 2. Likewise, ownership rose to 60% and 69% in the same years. 3. In 2001, the falling rate of rentals slackened to 31% (69% for ownership) and there was a small rebound that bucked the trend at the end of period with rented houses rising to nearly 40% and owned houses dipping to just over 60%.

1. My first sentence continues to describe them as ownership overtakes rentals in the middle of the period.

2. The second sentence compares ownership’s data with rentals.

3. My final sentence includes all the data from the graph.

 

Vocabulary Practice

I put some mistakes into the writing below – can you find and correct the vocabulary mistakes? Some are too informal, others are just incorrect vocabulary…

The described presented bar chart illustrates percentages of owned and rented English and Welsh accomodation from 1918 to 2011. Overall, owning and renting showed opposites with a sharper increase in ownership and a reflecting decline in the percentage of renters. By the end of all the period, overall ownership had overcome renting by a big margin.

In 1918, household ownership witnessed at around 23% compared to rentals, which were at near 80%. From that point it was a steady jump in ownership and disaster in rentals. Rentals climbed 69% in 1939 and held straight until 1953 before dying to 59% in 1961. Ownership flew upwards to 31% in 1939, stayed put there in 1953 before equal with rentals at 50% each in 1971.

This trend continued for both percentages with rentals very down to 40% and 31% in 1981 and 1991, respectively. Likewise, ownership rose to 60% and 69% in the same years. In 2001, the ungrowing rate of rentals recovered to 31% (69% for ownership) and there was a upwards that went against at the end of period with rented houses rising to nearly 40% and owned houses going under to way over 60%.

 

Answers

The presented bar chart illustrates percentages of owned and rented English and Welsh accomodation from 1918 to 2011. Overall, owning and renting showed opposite trends with a sharp increase in ownership and a reciprocal decline in the percentage of renters. By the end of the period, overall ownership had overtaken renting by a wide margin.

In 1918, household ownership stood at around 23% compared to rentals, which were at nearly 80%. From that point there was a steady rise in ownership and decline in rentals. Rentals reached 69% in 1939 and held steady until 1953 before falling to 59% in 1961. Ownership rose to 31% in 1939, remained there in 1953 before becoming even with rentals at 50% each in 1971.

This trend continued for both percentages with rentals declining sharply to 40% and 31% in 1981 and 1991, respectively. Likewise, ownership rose to 60% and 69% in the same years. In 2001, the falling rate of rentals slackened to 31% (69% for ownership) and there was a small rebound that bucked the trend at the end of period with rented houses rising to nearly 40% and owned houses dipping to just over 60%.

 

Vocabulary Definitions

presented: illustrated or shown

opposite trends: reverse movement

sharp increase: increased quickly

reciprocal decline: decreasing in the opposite direction

by the end of the period: at the end of the graph

overtaken: to beat or go in front of or outrank

wide margin: by a lot

stood: were at

nearly: almost

from that point there was: from then on

steady rise: increasing slowly but at the same rate

decline: decrease

reached: were at

held steady: stayed the same

falling: decreasing

rose: increased

remained there: stayed there

becoming even: were level with/equal with

declining sharply: decreasing quickly

falling rate: decreasing trend

slackened: slowed

small rebound: came back up

bucked the trend: reverse the movement/momentum

dipping: decreasing

just over: more than

 

Grammar Practice

I put some grammar mistakes in it this time – can you find and correct the grammar mistakes? Check your answers with the original answer above.

The presented bar chart illustrating illustrates percentages of owned and rented English and Welsh accomodation by 1918 to 2011. Overall, owning and renting had showed opposite trends with the sharp increase in ownership and a reciprocal decline in the percentage of renters. By the end of the period, overall ownership has overtaken renting with a wide margin.

In 1918, household ownership stand at around 23% compared to rentals, who were at nearly 80%. From that point there was a steady rise in ownership and decline in rentals. Rentals reaching 69% in 1939 and held steady until 1953 before falls to 59% in 1961. Ownership rose to 31% in 1939, remained there by 1953 before becoming even with the rentals at 50% each at 1971.

This trend continuing for both percentages with rentals decline sharply to 40% and 31% in 1981 and 1991, respectively. Likewise, ownership rise to 60% and 69% in the same years. In 2001, the falling rate of rentals was slackened to 31% (69% for ownership) and there is a small rebound that bucked the trend at the end of period with rented houses rising to nearly 40% and owned houses has dipping to just over 60%.

 

Answers

The presented bar chart illustrates percentages of owned and rented English and Welsh accomodation from 1918 to 2011. Overall, owning and renting showed opposite trends with a sharp increase in ownership and a reciprocal decline in the percentage of renters. By the end of the period, overall ownership had overtaken renting by a wide margin.

In 1918, household ownership stood at around 23% compared to rentals which were at nearly 80%. From that point there was a steady rise in ownership and decline in rentals. Rentals reached 69% in 1939 and held steady until 1953 before falling to 59% in 1961. Ownership rose to 31% in 1939, remained there in 1953 before becoming even with rentals at 50% each in 1971.

This trend continued for both percentages with rentals declining sharply to 40% and 31% in 1981 and 1991, respectively. Likewise, ownership rose to 60% and 69% in the same years. In 2001, the falling rate of rentals slackened to 31% (69% for ownership) and there was a small rebound that bucked the trend at the end of period with rented houses rising to nearly 40% and owned houses dipping to just over 60%.

 

Links

Here is my live lesson on task 1 writing overviews from my YouTube channel.

To review about the topic here is a video about ‘Freedom from the Housing Trap.’

You can find some useful images for task 1 writing here on HowtodoIELTS’ Instagram.

Finally, here is a song about a house:

 

 

Comment Below:

Do you own a house? Or do you rent?

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