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This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay from IELTS Cambridge 15 on the topic of the work for Anthropology graduates.
It is a really, really tough one!
There is a ton of data and the overview is hard because of all the information and how difficult it is to group the information.
The length is a little long (200 words) but it is needed to detail all the data and have a complete overview.
Be sure that you check out my exclusive IELTS Ebooks and materials on Patreon here (and recommend a friend if you can!).
Writing Task 1 Tests 1-4:
Writing Task 2 Tests 1-4
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay Cambridge 15: Owning or Renting a Home (IELTS Cambridge 15)
Dave
Before reading, listen to the audio and try to accurate draw the graph:
IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Answer Essay IELTS Cambridge 15: Anthropology Graduates

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The pie chart details the initial occupations of Anthropology students after graduation and the table records their salaries following 5 years of work in various sectors. Overall, most graduates took full-time positions, followed by part-time jobs, unemployment, graduate study or unknown, and finally part-time work together with graduate study. The average salaries tended to be much higher for freelance consultants than those working in the government and private companies, though there were many federal workers in the highest salary bracket.
A total of 52% of graduates were employed full-time, compared to 15% for part-time, 12% unemployed, 8% categorised as unknown, 8% pursuing full-time further education, and finally 5% combining part-time work and higher education study.
Turning to the table, freelance consultants were overwhelmingly employed in the upper pay scales at 40% in both $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, with just 20% making between $25,000 and $74,999. Government employees displayed a broadly similar pattern with identical figures at the two lowest pay bands, 30% in the $75,000 to $99,999 range, and 50% earning over a hundred thousand dollars a year. Private industry salaries diverged generally with 10% in the lowest income range, a striking 35% earning $50,000 to $74,999, while 25% and 30% of graduates made $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, respectively.
Analysis
1. The pie chart details the initial occupations of Anthropology students after graduation and the table records their salaries following 5 years of work in various sectors. 2. Overall, most graduates took full-time positions, followed by part-time jobs, unemployment, graduate study or unknown, and finally part-time work together with graduate study. 3. The average salaries tended to be much higher for freelance consultants than those working in the government and private companies, though there were many federal workers in the highest salary bracket.
- Paraphrase what the graph and table are about – mention both.
- Your overview must cover all categories – that is why it is so long for this graph. Read more about writing a general overview here.
- Write an overview for the tables too. Read about the mistake that 99% of students make when writing overviews for tables here.
1. A total of 52% of graduates were employed full-time, compared to 15% for part-time, 12% unemployed, 8% categorised as unknown, 8% pursuing full-time further education, and finally 5% combining part-time work and higher education study.
- Give all the data for the pie chart.
1. Turning to the table, freelance consultants were overwhelmingly employed in the upper pay scales at 40% in both $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, with just 20% making between $25,000 and $74,999. 2. Government employees displayed a broadly similar pattern with identical figures at the two lowest pay bands, 30% in the $75,000 to $99,999 range, and 50% earning over a hundred thousand dollars a year. 3. Private industry salaries diverged generally with 10% in the lowest income range, a striking 35% earning $50,000 to $74,999, while 25% and 30% of graduates made $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, respectively.
- Begin to describe and compare the data for the table.
- Try to group the information as much as possible.
- Make sure that you cover all areas and all the data.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The pie chart details the initial occupations of Anthropology students after graduation and the table records their salaries following 5 years of work in various sectors. Overall, most graduates took full-time positions, followed by part-time jobs, unemployment, graduate study or unknown, and finally part-time work together with graduate study. The average salaries tended to be much higher for freelance consultants than those working in the government and private companies, though there were many federal workers in the highest salary bracket.
A total of 52% of graduates were employed full-time, compared to 15% for part-time, 12% unemployed, 8% categorised as unknown, 8% pursuing full-time further education, and finally 5% combining part-time work and higher education study.
Turning to the table, freelance consultants were overwhelmingly employed in the upper pay scales at 40% in both $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, with just 20% making between $25,000 and $74,999. Government employees displayed a broadly similar pattern with identical figures at the two lowest pay bands, 30% in the $75,000 to $99,999 range, and 50% earning over a hundred thousand dollars a year. Private industry salaries diverged generally with 10% in the lowest income range, a striking 35% earning $50,000 to $74,999, while 25% and 30% of graduates made $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, respectively.
Answers
details illustrates
initial occupations first jobs
Anthropology the study of peoples, history, and culture
records details
following after
various sectors different areas
full-time positions 40 hour+ jobs
part-time jobs under 40 hours, hourly paid work
unemployment not having a job
graduate study learning for a masters or PhD
tended to be is usually
freelance consultants advisers
private companies commercial entities
federal related to the government
highest salary bracket those who made the most money
compared to in contrast to
categorised as in the group of
pursuing seeking
combining together
turning to the table looking at the table
overwhelmingly mostly
upper pay scales people who made more money
displayed showed
broadly similar pattern generally the same trend
identical figures same numbers
lowest pay bands least well paid
range grouping
earning making
private industry companies
diverged generally different overall
striking stands out
respectively in turn
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ˈdiːteɪlz
ɪˈnɪʃəl ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃənz
ˌænθrəˈpɒləʤi
ˈrɛkɔːdz
ˈfɒləʊɪŋ
ˈveərɪəs ˈsɛktəz
fʊl-taɪm pəˈzɪʃənz
pɑːt-taɪm ʤɒbz
ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt
ˈgrædjʊət ˈstʌdi
ˈtɛndɪd tuː biː
ˈfriːˌlɑːns kənˈsʌltənts
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈkʌmpəniz
ˈfɛdərəl
ˈhaɪɪst ˈsæləri ˈbrækɪt
kəmˈpeəd tuː
ˈkætɪgəraɪzd æz
pəˈsjuːɪŋ
kəmˈbaɪnɪŋ
ˈtɜːnɪŋ tuː ðə ˈteɪbl
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli
ˈʌpə peɪ skeɪlz
dɪsˈpleɪd
ˈbrɔːdli ˈsɪmɪlə ˈpætən
aɪˈdɛntɪkəl ˈfɪgəz
ˈləʊɪst peɪ bændz
reɪnʤ
ˈɜːnɪŋ
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈɪndəstri
daɪˈvɜːʤd ˈʤɛnərəli
ˈstraɪkɪŋ
rɪsˈpɛktɪvli
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The pie chart d___________s the i______________________s of A_________________y students after graduation and the table r____________s their salaries f________________g 5 years of work in v_________________s. Overall, most graduates took f___________________s, followed by p______________________s, u___________________t, g____________________y or unknown, and finally part-time work together with graduate study. The average salaries t____________________e much higher for f__________________________s than those working in the government and p__________________________s, though there were many f_____________l workers in the h_________________________t.
A total of 52% of graduates were employed full-time, c_________________o 15% for part-time, 12% unemployed, 8% c__________________s unknown, 8% p_________________g full-time further education, and finally 5% c___________________g part-time work and higher education study.
T__________________________e, freelance consultants were o_____________________y employed in the u____________________s at 40% in both $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, with just 20% making between $25,000 and $74,999. Government employees d______________d a b_________________________n with i___________________s at the two l________________________s, 30% in the $75,000 to $99,999 r__________e, and 50% e_____________g over a hundred thousand dollars a year. P____________________y salaries d______________________y with 10% in the lowest income range, a s______________g 35% earning $50,000 to $74,999, while 25% and 30% of graduates made $75,000 – $99,999 and $100,000+, r_________________________y.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Learn about anthropology below:
Reading Practice
Browse some recent, new discoveries in anthropology below:
https://www.livescience.com/topics/anthropology
Speaking Practice
Answer the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
History
Do you like reading books about history?
Which country’s history is most interesting to you?
Which historical event or period do you find most interesting?
Why is it important to read about history?
IELTS Speaking Exam
Writing Practice
Answer the following related question and then check with my sample answer:

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