This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of at which age women in Australia had their first child from the real IELTS exam.

Find my full IELTS Ebooks here.

You can find line charts here and bar charts here.

Dave

IELTS Task 1 Essay: Women in Australia – First Child

The bar chart details when women in Australia had their first child from 1966 to 2006. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that women in the past tended to have their first child earlier in life, especially very young women. Having a child in one’s 30s became much more common, though after one’s 30s it remained relatively rare.

In 1966, 33% of women had their first child under the age of 19. This figure dropped precipitously to reach 11% by 2006. The data for women 19-24 underwent a similar drop, falling from 62% to 50% and finally 28%.

In contrast, 36% of women were 19-24 years old when they first gave birth in 1966 and this number then rose to 50% in 1986 before dropping back to just above the original figure to end the period. The largest rise occurred in the 30-34 age range which more than quadrupled (11% to 18% to 45%). This paralleled the growth for ages 34-39, nearly doubling every 20 years from 9% to 17% and lastly 30%. Finally, there was little change for women over 40 despite marginal growth from 3% to 5%.

Analysis

1. The bar chart details when women in Australia had their first child from 1966 to 2006. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that women in the past tended to have their first child earlier in life, especially very young women. 3. Having a child in one’s 30s became much more common, though after one’s 30s it remained relatively rare.

1. Paraphrase what the table shows.
2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
3. You might need another sentence for your overview.

1. In 1966, 33% of women had their first child under the age of 19. This figure dropped precipitously to reach 11% by 2006. 2. The data for women 19-24 underwent a similar drop, falling from 62% to 50% and finally 28%.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.

1. In contrast, 36% of women were 19-24 years old when they first gave birth in 1966 and this number then rose to 50% in 1986 before dropping back to just above the original figure to end the period. 2. The largest rise occurred in the 30-34 age range which more than quadrupled (11% to 18% to 45%). 3. This paralleled the growth for ages 34-39, nearly doubling every 20 years from 9% to 17% and lastly 30%. 4. Finally, there was little change for women over 40 despite marginal growth from 3% to 5%.

1. Write about the final, other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Compare the categories.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:

The bar chart details when women in Australia had their first child from 1966 to 2006. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that women in the past tended to have their first child earlier in life, especially very young women. Having a child in one’s 30s became much more common, though after one’s 30s it remained relatively rare.

In 1966, 33% of women had their first child under the age of 19. This figure dropped precipitously to reach 11% by 2006. The data for women 19-24 underwent a similar drop, falling from 62% to 50% and finally 28%.

In contrast, 36% of women were 19-24 years old when they first gave birth in 1966 and this number then rose to 50% in 1986 before dropping back to just above the original figure to end the period. The largest rise occurred in the 30-34 age range which more than quadrupled (11% to 18% to 45%). This paralleled the growth for ages 34-39, nearly doubling every 20 years from 9% to 17% and lastly 30%. Finally, there was little change for women over 40 despite marginal growth from 3% to 5%.

Answers

Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

details shows

first child first kid

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall

in the past formerly

tended to usually

earlier in life when younger

especially in particular

common happened a lot

remained relatively rare stayed not that common

under less than

figure dropped precipitously number fell a lot

reach got to

data numbers

underwent a similar drop also fell

falling from … to going down to

finally lastly

in contrast however

first gave birth had their first child

rose increased

before dropping back to prior to decreasing

just above the original figure a little over the first number

to end the period at the end of the time surveyed

largest rise occurred in biggest increase was in

age range age bracket

quadrupled 4x, 400%

paralleled mirrored

growth increase

nearly doubling almost 2x, 200%

lastly finally

little change not much different

despite marginal growth regardless of a little rise

Pronunciation

Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:

ˈdiːteɪlz 
fɜːst ʧaɪld 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
ɪn ðə pɑːst 
ˈtɛndɪd tuː 
ˈɜːlɪər ɪn laɪf
ɪsˈpɛʃəli 
ˈkɒmən
rɪˈmeɪnd ˈrɛlətɪvli reə
ˈʌndə 
ˈfɪgə drɒpt prɪˈsɪpɪtəsli 
riːʧ 
ˈdeɪtə 
ˌʌndəˈwɛnt ə ˈsɪmɪlə drɒp
ˈfɔːlɪŋ frɒm … tuː 
ˈfaɪnəli 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
fɜːst geɪv bɜːθ 
rəʊz 
bɪˈfɔː ˈdrɒpɪŋ bæk tuː 
ʤʌst əˈbʌv ði əˈrɪʤənl ˈfɪgə 
tuː ɛnd ðə ˈpɪərɪəd 
ˈlɑːʤɪst raɪz əˈkɜːd ɪn 
eɪʤ reɪnʤ 
ˈkwɒdrʊpld 
ˈpærəlɛld 
grəʊθ 
ˈnɪəli ˈdʌblɪŋ 
ˈlɑːstli 
ˈlɪtl ʧeɪnʤ 
dɪsˈpaɪt ˈmɑːʤɪnəl grəʊθ 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:

The bar chart d_____s when women in Australia had their f_________d from 1966 to 2006. L________________________________________t women i_________________o have their first child e_________e, e________y very young women. Having a child in one’s 30s became much more c_________n, though after one’s 30s it r__________________e.

In 1966, 33% of women had their first child u______r the age of 19. This f________________________y to r_____h 11% by 2006. The d__a for women 19-24 u________________________p, f___________m 62% t__ 50% and f______y 28%.

I___________t, 36% of women were 19-24 years old when they f____________h in 1966 and this number then r____e to 50% in 1986 b_________________________o j_______________________e t__________________d. The l_____________________n the 30-34 a_________e which more than q____________d (11% to 18% to 45%). This p___________d the g________h for ages 34-39, n____________________g every 20 years from 9% to 17% and l______y 30%. Finally, there was l______________e for women over 40 d___________________h from 3% to 5%.

Listening Practice

Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/04/upshot/up-birth-age-gap.html

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Family

1. Are you close with your family?
2. Who do you talk to in your family the most?
3. Do you have a large family?
4. Are families becoming more distant in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related chart below and then check with my sample answer:

IELTS Task 1: Birth Rates China and the USA