This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of city planning and zoning.

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IELTS Cambridge Task 1 Essay: Public Library

The charts below give information about a public library in a town called Little Chalfont.

The various charts provide details about total loans, age demographics, and genres at the public library of Little Chalfont. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that adults aged 18-64 represented by far the majority of library-goers, with roughly equal proportions for other age groups. The total number of loans rose considerably overall, with children’s and adult’s fiction representing clearly the most common genres for borrowers by 2016.

In terms of the age demographics for the public library in 2016, a sizable majority of 51% were between the ages of 18 and 64. Other age brackets, adults 65 and over, children, and young adults 13-17, stood at 12%, 22%, and 15% respectively.

Regarding genres, fiction for children and adults were borrowed at the same rate of 38% in 2016. The next closest genre was adult non-fiction at 13%. All other kinds of books (children’s non-fiction, children’s DVDs, young adults, and adult audio books) were loaned at marginal rates ranging from 6 to 1%. Lastly, the total number of loans began in 2007 at just over 15,000, rose steadily to a plateau over 20,000 from 2010 to 2012, before a slight dip in 2013 (to under 20,000), and more than full recovery to near 22,000 by the end of the period.

Analysis

1. The various charts provide details about total loans, age demographics, and genres at the public library of Little Chalfont. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that adults aged 18-64 represented by far the majority of library-goers, with roughly equal proportions for other age groups. 3. The total number of loans rose considerably overall, with children’s and adult’s fiction representing clearly the most common genres for borrowers by 2016.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear overview.
3. Make sure your overview has two sentences.

1. In terms of the age demographics for the public library in 2016, a sizable majority of 51% were between the ages of 18 and 64. 2. Other age brackets, adults 65 and over, children, and young adults 13-17, stood at 12%, 22%, and 15% respectively.

1. Begin describing the data from the first one.
2. Make sure you include data – don’t be general.

1. Regarding genres, fiction for children and adults were borrowed at the same rate of 38% in 2016. 2. The next closest genre was adult non-fiction at 13%. 3. All other kinds of books (children’s non-fiction, children’s DVDs, young adults, and adult audio books) were loaned at marginal rates ranging from 6 to 1%. 4. Lastly, the total number of loans began in 2007 at just over 15,000, rose steadily to a plateau over 20,000 from 2010 to 2012, before a slight dip in 2013 (to under 20,000), and more than full recovery to near 22,000 by the end of the period.

1. Move on to the rest of the data.
2. Compare between every sentence.
3. Include everything.
4. Aim for balanced paragraphs too.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The various charts provide details about total loans, age demographics, and genres at the public library of Little Chalfont. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that adults aged 18-64 represented by far the majority of library-goers, with roughly equal proportions for other age groups. The total number of loans rose considerably overall, with children’s and adult’s fiction representing clearly the most common genres for borrowers by 2016.

In terms of the age demographics for the public library in 2016, a sizable majority of 51% were between the ages of 18 and 64. Other age brackets, adults 65 and over, children, and young adults 13-17, stood at 12%, 22%, and 15% respectively.

Regarding genres, fiction for children and adults were borrowed at the same rate of 38% in 2016. The next closest genre was adult non-fiction at 13%. All other kinds of books (children’s non-fiction, children’s DVDs, young adults, and adult audio books) were loaned at marginal rates ranging from 6 to 1%. Lastly, the total number of loans began in 2007 at just over 15,000, rose steadily to a plateau over 20,000 from 2010 to 2012, before a slight dip in 2013 (to under 20,000), and more than full recovery to near 22,000 by the end of the period.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

various → a range of

provide details about → outline information on

total loans → overall number of borrowings

age demographics → age distribution

genres → categories of books

public library → community library

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that → Taking a broad view, it is clear that

represented → accounted for

by far → overwhelmingly

the majority of → most of

roughly equal proportions → nearly identical shares

for other age groups → among the remaining age categories

rose considerably overall → experienced a significant overall increase

representing → making up

most common genres for borrowers → the book types most frequently chosen by readers

In terms of → With regard to

demographics → population characteristics

a sizable majority of → a substantial portion of

age brackets → age ranges

stood at → was recorded at

respectively → in the same order

Regarding → Concerning

borrowed at the same rate of → checked out equally at

The next closest genre → The second most borrowed category

loaned at marginal rates ranging from 6 to 1% → issued in minimal amounts between 1% and 6%

Lastly → Finally

at just over → slightly above

rose steadily to a plateau over → gradually climbed and then leveled off during

before a slight dip in → followed by a modest decline in

more than full recovery to near → rebounded beyond previous levels to approach

by the end of the period → at the close of the timeframe

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈveəriəs
prəˈvaɪd ˈdiːteɪlz əˈbaʊt
ˈtəʊtᵊl ləʊnz
eɪʤ ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪks
ˈʒɒnrəz
ˈpʌblɪk ˈlaɪbrᵊri
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntɪd
baɪ fɑː
ðə məˈʤɒrəti ɒv
ˈrʌfli ˈiːkwəl prəˈpɔːʃᵊnz
fɔːr ˈʌðər eɪʤ ɡruːps
rəʊz kənˈsɪdᵊrəbᵊli ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntɪŋ
məʊst ˈkɒmən ˈʒɒnrəz fɔː ˈbɒrəʊəz
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪks
ə ˈsaɪzəbᵊl məˈʤɒrəti ɒv
eɪʤ ˈbrækɪts,
stʊd æt
rɪˈspɛktɪvli
rɪˈɡɑːdɪŋ
ˈbɒrəʊd æt ðə seɪm reɪt ɒv
ðə nɛkst ˈkləʊzɪst ˈʒɒnrə
ləʊnd æt ˈmɑːʤɪnᵊl reɪts ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm 6 tuː 1%
ˈlɑːstli
æt ʤʌst ˈəʊvə
rəʊz ˈstɛdɪli tuː ə ˈplætəʊ ˈəʊvə
bɪˈfɔːr ə slaɪt dɪp ɪn
mɔː ðæn fʊl rɪˈkʌvᵊri tuː nɪə
baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪəriəd

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The v________s charts provide ________ about total _______s, age _____________s, and g_______s at the public ________y of Little Chalfont. Looking _______________________________________________ that adults aged 18-64 r____________d by ____r the __________ of library-goers, with roughly _________ proportions for __________ groups. The total number of loans rose ___________ overall, with children’s and adult’s fiction r_________g clearly the most ____________________ borrowers by 2016.

In ________ of the age d__________s for the public library in 2016, a __________________ of 51% were between the ages of 18 and 64. Other age ________s, adults 65 and over, children, and young adults 13-17, stood ___t 12%, 22%, and 15% r________y.

R_________g genres, fiction for children and adults were borrowed _______________ of 38% in 2016. The ____________ genre was adult non-fiction at 13%. All other kinds of books (children’s non-fiction, children’s DVDs, young adults, and adult audio books) were loaned _______________________________________ 1%. L_______y, the total number of loans began in 2007 at ________ over 15,000, rose _____________________ over 20,000 from 2010 to 2012, before ________________ in 2013 (to under 20,000), and more ___________________ near 22,000 by _____________ period.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

Magical Libraries You NEED to Visit Around the World

Speaking Practice

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

Books and Reading Habits

1. Do you often read books?

2. Do you read different books now than you did when you were younger?

3. Have you ever read a novel that has been adapted into a film?

4. Which do you prefer: reading books or watching movies?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay below:

IELTS Essay Task 1: Bookseller Pie Charts