This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of consumption and milk and butter (or dairy) from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay Task 1: Consumption of Milk and Butter

The table below illustrates weekly consumption by age group of dairy products in a European country.

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

AGES
<2526 – 4545 – 6565+
Milk1200ml1650ml1670ml1900ml
Full Fat59%20%45%30%
Low Fat41%80%55%70%
Butter12g19g60g30g
Full Fat60%38%50%49%
Low Fat40%62%50%51%

The table compares milk and butter purchases by age according to how much fat they contain. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that younger people tend to consume less milk and butter, especially those under 25, though the fat content is highest for that group. The oldest group drink the most milk, mainly low fat, while those 45-65 eat the most butter.

Milk consumption for the under 25 group is lowest at 1,200ml, of which 59% is full fat and 41% low fat. This pattern is generally reversed for older people with individuals 26-45, 25-65, and 65+ drinking 1,650ml, 1,670ml, and 1,900ml, respectively. The fat content also is lower at 20% for 26-45, 45% for 45-65, and 30% for the oldest age bracket (and reciprocal figures for low fat consumption).

In terms of butter, younger people also use the least at just 12g, in contrast to 19g for those 26-45, and 60g and 30g for the two older groups in turn. Younger individuals similarly opt for more fat (60% full fat to 40% low fat), while the older demographics have much lower proportions here (38% full fat for 26-45, and around 50% for everyone over 45).

Analysis

1. The table compares milk and butter purchases by age according to how much fat they contain. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that younger people tend to consume less milk and butter, especially those under 25, though the fat content is highest for that group. 3. The oldest group drink the most milk, mainly low fat, while those 45-65 eat the most butter.

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

1. Milk consumption for the under 25 group is lowest at 1,200ml, of which 59% is full fat and 41% low fat. 2. This pattern is generally reversed for older people with individuals 26-45, 25-65, and 65+ drinking 1,650ml, 1,670ml, and 1,900ml, respectively. 3. The fat content also is lower at 20% for 26-45, 45% for 45-65, and 30% for the oldest age bracket (and reciprocal figures for low fat consumption).

  1. Begin writing about the data for the first category.
  2. Describe the next area and compare it to the area before.

1. In terms of butter, younger people also use the least at just 12g, in contrast to 19g for those 26-45, and 60g and 30g for the two older groups in turn. 2. Younger individuals similarly opt for more fat (60% full fat to 40% low fat), while the older demographics have much lower proportions here (38% full fat for 26-45, and around 50% for everyone over 45).

  1. Write about the final other parts of the table – include everything!
  2. There is a lot of data in this one but try to get to all of it.
  3. Make sure nothing is missed.

Vocabulary

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

The table compares milk and butter purchases by age according to how much fat they contain. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that younger people tend to consume less milk and butter, especially those under 25, though the fat content is highest for that group. The oldest group drink the most milk, mainly low fat, while those 45-65 eat the most butter.

Milk consumption for the under 25 group is lowest at 1,200ml, of which 59% is full fat and 41% low fat. This pattern is generally reversed for older people with individuals 26-45, 25-65, and 65+ drinking 1,650ml, 1,670ml, and 1,900ml, respectively. The fat content also is lower at 20% for 26-45, 45% for 45-65, and 30% for the oldest age bracket (and reciprocal figures for low fat consumption).

In terms of butter, younger people also use the least at just 12g, in contrast to 19g for those 26-45, and 60g and 30g for the two older groups in turn. Younger individuals similarly opt for more fat (60% full fat to 40% low fat), while the older demographics have much lower proportions here (38% full fat for 26-45, and around 50% for everyone over 45).

Answers

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

compares shows the differences between

purchases bought

according to related to

fat cluster of fatty acids found in cheese, butter, oil, etc.

contain have inside them

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

tend to usually

consume eat/drink

especially in particular

fat content amount of fat in something

highest biggest

mainly mostly

low fat not much fat content

consumption how much is eaten/used

lowest opposite of highest

pattern trend

generally reversed show the opposite mostly

respectively in turn

age bracket age group

reciprocal figures complementary statistics

in terms of when it comes to

in contrast to compared to

in turn respectively

similarly opt for in the same way choose

while however/in contrast

demographics groups of people

proportions ratios, percentages

around close to

over about

Pronunciation

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

kəmˈpeəz 
ˈpɜːʧəsɪz 
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː 
fæt 
kənˈteɪn
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
tɛnd tuː
kənˈsjuːm 
ɪsˈpɛʃəli 
fæt ˈkɒntɛnt 
ˈhaɪɪst 
ˈmeɪnli 
ləʊ fæt
kənˈsʌm(p)ʃən 
ˈləʊɪst 
ˈpætən 
ˈʤɛnərəli rɪˈvɜːst 
rɪsˈpɛktɪvli
eɪʤ ˈbrækɪt
rɪˈsɪprəkəl ˈfɪgəz 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst tuː 
ɪn tɜːn
ˈsɪmɪləli ɒpt fɔː 
waɪl 
ˌdɛməˈgræfɪks 
prəˈpɔːʃənz 
əˈraʊnd 
ˈəʊvə 

Vocabulary Practice

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

The table c___________s milk and butter p_________s by age a____________o how much f___t they c__________n. L___________________________________________t younger people t___________o c___________e less milk and butter, e___________y those under 25, though the f____________t is h___________t for that group. The oldest group drink the most milk, m____________y l_________t, while those 45-65 eat the most butter.

Milk c__________________n for the under 25 group is l__________t at 1,200ml, of which 59% is full fat and 41% low fat. This p__________n is g________________________d for older people with individuals 26-45, 25-65, and 65+ drinking 1,650ml, 1,670ml, and 1,900ml, r_______________y. The fat content also is lower at 20% for 26-45, 45% for 45-65, and 30% for the oldest a_____________t (and r____________________s for low fat consumption).

I_____________f butter, younger people also use the least at just 12g, i______________o 19g for those 26-45, and 60g and 30g for the two older groups i_______n. Younger individuals s_____________y o_________r more fat (60% full fat to 40% low fat), w_______e the older d_______________s have much lower p_______________s here (38% full fat for 26-45, and a__________d 50% for everyone o_____r 45).

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.healthline.com/nutrition/is-dairy-bad-or-good

Speaking Practice

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

Water

  1. Do you drink a lot of water?
  2. Do you prefer bottled or tap water?
  3. Did you drink a lot of water when you were younger?
  4. Would you say that bottled water is expensive in your country?

Writing Practice

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

IELTS Essay Task 1: Exports Table

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