This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay from the new IELTS Cambridge 18 book of past tests on the topic of the number of US households (in millions) by annual income.

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IELTS Cambridge 18: Households Annual Income

The bar chart details the total number of households in the United States categorized by average annual income from the year 2007 to 2015. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there were rising trends for all income brackets with the exception of those earning in the middle, which was stable. The greatest increase and the highest proportion by the end belonged to those earning the most.

In 2007, those with annual compensations under $25,000 numbered just over 25 million, a figure considerably higher than $50,000-$74,999 (21 million) and $75,000-99,999 (14 million) but beneath those earning $25,000-$49,999 (27 million) and over $100,000 (29 million). Four years later, there was a decline for the wealthiest homes to 26 million, the next wealthiest to 14 million and noticeable rises of around 3 million for the lower income brackets. Only the middle-income group was unchanged throughout the surveyed time period.

By 2015, the number of very wealthy households had surged to 33 million while the two lowest earning demographics fell slightly by about a million each to finish around 26 million. There was a moderate rise for the second highest earning households to end the period at precisely 15 million in total.

Analysis

1. The bar chart details the total number of households in the United States categorized by average annual income from the year 2007 to 2015. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there were rising trends for all income brackets with the exception of those earning in the middle, which was stable. 3. The greatest increase and the highest proportion by the end belonged to those earning the most.

1. Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences and the overall trend.
3. This one is a little complex so it needs a second sentence for the overview.

1. In 2007, those with annual compensations under $25,000 numbered just over 25 million, a figure considerably higher than $50,000-$74,999 (21 million) and $75,000-99,999 (14 million) but beneath those earning $25,000-$49,999 (27 million) and over $100,000 (29 million). 2. Four years later, there was a decline for the wealthiest homes to 26 million, the next wealthiest to 14 million and noticeable rises of around 3 million for the lower income brackets. 3. Only the middle-income group was unchanged throughout the surveyed time period.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Compare between each sentence.
3. Add as much detail as possible.

1. By 2015, the number of very wealthy households had surged to 33 million while the two lowest earning demographics fell slightly by about a million each to finish around 26 million. 2. There was a moderate rise for the second highest earning households to end the period at precisely 15 million in total.

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? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The bar chart details the total number of households in the United States categorized by average annual income from the year 2007 to 2015. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there were rising trends for all income brackets with the exception of those earning in the middle, which was stable. The greatest increase and the highest proportion by the end belonged to those earning the most.

In 2007, those with annual compensations under $25,000 numbered just over 25 million, a figure considerably higher than $50,000-$74,999 (21 million) and $75,000-99,999 (14 million) but beneath those earning $25,000-$49,999 (27 million) and over $100,000 (29 million). Four years later, there was a decline for the wealthiest homes to 26 million, the next wealthiest to 14 million and noticeable rises of around 3 million for the lower income brackets. Only the middle-income group was unchanged throughout the surveyed time period.

By 2015, the number of very wealthy households had surged to 33 million while the two lowest earning demographics fell slightly by about a million each to finish around 26 million. There was a moderate rise for the second highest earning households to end the period at precisely 15 million in total.

Answers

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

details shows

total number of households

categorized by average annual income grouped by how much earned in a year

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

rising trends for all income brackets with the exception of growth patterns for all groups but not for

stable consistent

The greatest increase the biggest rise

the highest proportion by the end belonged to the majority at the finish was for

earning the most making the most money

annual compensations under money earned in a year less than

numbered just over was a little above

a figure considerably higher than a number much more than

later after that

there was a decline for the wealthiest homes to the richest houses fell to

the next wealthiest the second richest

noticeable rises of big increases constituting

lower income brackets people earning less money

unchanged throughout the surveyed time period was stable the whole time

very wealthy households rich homes

surged increased a lot

while in contrast

two lowest earning demographics fell slightly by people who made the least went down a little in the year

each both of them

finish around end near

moderate rise small increase

end the period at precisely finish the time at exactly

in total all combined

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz 
ˈtəʊtl ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈhaʊshəʊldz 
ˈkætɪɡəraɪzd baɪ ˈævərɪʤ ˈænjuəl ˈɪnkʌm 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
ˈraɪzɪŋ trɛndz fɔːr ɔːl ˈɪnkʌm ˈbrækɪts wɪð ði ɪkˈsɛpʃᵊn ɒv 
ˈsteɪbᵊl 
ðə ˈɡreɪtɪst ˈɪnkriːs 
ðə ˈhaɪɪst prəˈpɔːʃᵊn baɪ ði ɛnd bɪˈlɒŋd tuː 
ˈɜːnɪŋ ðə məʊst 
ˈænjuəl ˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃᵊnz ˈʌndə 
ˈnʌmbəd ʤʌst ˈəʊvə 
ə ˈfɪɡə kənˈsɪdərəbᵊli ˈhaɪə ðæn 
ˈleɪtə,
ðeə wɒz ə dɪˈklaɪn fɔː ðə ˈwɛlθɪɪst həʊmz tuː 
ðə nɛkst ˈwɛlθɪɪst 
ˈnəʊtɪsəbᵊl ˈraɪzɪz ɒv 
ˈləʊər ˈɪnkʌm ˈbrækɪts 
ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd θruːˈaʊt ðə sɜːˈveɪd taɪm ˈpɪəriəd 
ˈvɛri ˈwɛlθi ˈhaʊshəʊldz 
sɜːʤd 
waɪl 
tuː ˈləʊɪst ˈɜːnɪŋ ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪks fɛl ˈslaɪtli baɪ 
iːʧ 
ˈfɪnɪʃ əˈraʊnd 
ˈmɒdərɪt raɪz 
ɛnd ðə ˈpɪəriəd æt prɪˈsaɪsli 
ɪn ˈtəʊtl 

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 bar chart d______s the t___________________________s in the United States c___________________________________e from the year 2007 to 2015. L____________________________________________________t there were r____________________________________________________________________f those earning in the middle, which was s______e. T___________e and t______________________________________________o those e_____________t.

In 2007, those with a_____________________________r $25,000 n_________________r 25 million, a__________________________________________n $50,000-$74,999 (21 million) and $75,000-99,999 (14 million) but beneath those earning $25,000-$49,999 (27 million) and over $100,000 (29 million). Four years l____r, t________________________________________________o 26 million, t__________________t to 14 million and n_______________________f around 3 million for the l______________________s. Only the middle-income group was u____________________________________________________________d.

By 2015, the number of v______________________s had s_____d to 33 million w_____e the t________________________________________________y about a million e____h to f________________d 26 million. There was a m______________e for the second highest earning households to e____________________________y 15 million i__________l.

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:

https://immigrantinvest.com/blog/top-10-richest-countries-world-en/

Speaking Practice

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

Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)

1. Are you student or are you working now?
2. What do you like about your job/school at the moment?
3. What job would you like to do in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

IELTS Essay: Expenditure Bar Chart