This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of an exports table in Hong Kong.
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IELTS Essay Task 1: Exports Table
The table below shows the changes in exports in HK billions between 2009 and 2010.
| $HK billions | 2009 | 2010 | Changes |
| Equipment | 10.3 | 11.6 | 13% |
| Telecommunications | 7.9 | 12.7 | 61% |
| Clothing | 6 | 5 | -17% |
| Manufacturing | 5.5 | 4 | -27% |
| Metals | 2.3 | 5.1 | 122% |
| Overall | 32 | 38.4 | 20% |
The table details the rise and fall of exports in billions of Hong Kong dollars from 2009 to 2010. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that exports displayed an upward trajectory in all categories except clothing and manufacturing. Telecommunications and metals rose the most, with the former and equipment constituting the most substantial export quantities overall.
In 2009, equipment and telecommunications were the largest exports at 10.3 and 7.9 $HK billions, respectively. By 2010, Telecommunications had overtaken equipment with a 61% surge to 12.7, while equipment grew marginally by 13% to 11.6.
In terms of less robust exports, both clothing and manufacturing declined slightly (from 6 to 5 and 5.5 to 4, in turn), while this trend was reversed for metals, which more than doubled to 5.1 $HK billions. General growth was reflected in an increase for exports in the aggregate of 20% and a total figure of 38.4 $HK billions.
Analysis
1. The table details the rise and fall of exports in billions of Hong Kong dollars from 2009 to 2010. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that exports displayed an upward trajectory in all categories except clothing and manufacturing. 3. Telecommunications and metals rose the most, with the former and equipment constituting the most substantial export quantities overall.
- Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the major trends and differences.
- You may need a second sentence for your general overview.
1. In 2009, equipment and telecommunications were the largest exports at 10.3 and 7.9 $HK billions, respectively. 2. By 2010, Telecommunications had overtaken equipment with a 61% surge to 12.7, while equipment grew marginally by 13% to 11.6.
- Begin writing about the bar chart.
- Compare as much as possible.
1. In terms of less robust exports, both clothing and manufacturing declined slightly (from 6 to 5 and 5.5 to 4, in turn), while this trend was reversed for metals, which more than doubled to 5.1 $HK billions. 2. General growth was reflected in an increase for exports in the aggregate of 20% and a total figure of 38.4 $HK billions.
- Write about the rest of the data from the bar chart.
- Make sure you have detailed all the information.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The table details the rise and fall of exports in billions of Hong Kong dollars from 2009 to 2010. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that exports displayed an upward trajectory in all categories except clothing and manufacturing. Telecommunications and metals rose the most, with the former and equipment constituting the most substantial export quantities overall.
In 2009, equipment and telecommunications were the largest exports at 10.3 and 7.9 $HK billions, respectively. By 2010, Telecommunications had overtaken equipment with a 61% surge to 12.7, while equipment grew marginally by 13% to 11.6.
In terms of less robust exports, both clothing and manufacturing declined slightly (from 6 to 5 and 5.5 to 4, in turn), while this trend was reversed for metals, which more than doubled to 5.1 $HK billions. General growth was reflected in an increase for exports in the aggregate of 20% and a total figure of 38.4 $HK billions.
Answers
details describes
rise and fall increase and decline
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that in general
displayed an upward trajectory increasing
except not including
former mentioned first
constituting made up of
substantial large
quantities amounts
largest exports most sent abroad
respectively in turn
overtaken surpassed
surge increased a lot
grew marginally increased a little
in terms of less robust exports when it comes to the smaller exports
declined slightly went down a little
in turn respectively
trend pattern
reversed opposite direction
more than doubled more than 200%
reflected mirrored
in the aggregate overall
total figure complete number
Pronunciation
ˈdiːteɪlz
raɪz ænd fɔːl
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
dɪsˈpleɪd ən ˈʌpwəd ˈtræʤɪktəri
ɪkˈsɛpt
ˈfɔːmə
ˈkɒnstɪtjuːtɪŋ
səbˈstænʃəl
ˈkwɒntɪtiz
ˈlɑːʤɪst ˈɛkspɔːts
rɪsˈpɛktɪvli
ˌəʊvəˈteɪkən
sɜːʤ
gruː ˈmɑːʤɪnəli
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv lɛs rəʊˈbʌst ˈɛkspɔːts
dɪˈklaɪnd ˈslaɪtli
ɪn tɜːn
trɛnd
rɪˈvɜːst
mɔː ðæn ˈdʌbld
rɪˈflɛktɪd
ɪn ði ˈægrɪgɪt
ˈtəʊtl ˈfɪgə
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The table d________s the r______________l of exports in billions of Hong Kong dollars from 2009 to 2010. L____________________________________________t exports d__________________________y in all categories e________t clothing and manufacturing. Telecommunications and metals rose the most, with the f________r and equipment c______________g the most s________________l export q____________s overall.
In 2009, equipment and telecommunications were the l_________________s at 10.3 and 7.9 $HK billions, r_____________y. By 2010, Telecommunications had o_____________n equipment with a 61% s______e to 12.7, while equipment g_______________________y by 13% to 11.6.
I_______________________________s, both clothing and manufacturing d________________y (from 6 to 5 and 5.5 to 4, i________n), while this t_____d was r____________d for metals, which m_______________d to 5.1 $HK billions. General growth was r____________d in an increase for exports i____________________e of 20% and a t_____________e of 38.4 $HK billions.
Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Buying
- Which item do you buy the most?
- Do you care about the price when buying an item?
- What was the last thing you bought?
- Are good products always expensive?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related chart below and then check with my sample answer:
can I use:
“an increase for the aggregate value of exports”
instead of:
“an increase for exports in the aggregate”
an increase in….
Then it’s fine!
The table provides a snapshot of exports data under various categories like equipment, telecommunication, clothing, manufacturing and metals for years 2009 and 2010 in HK billions. Looking from broader perspective, there was an increase in exports overall. Furthermore, exports rose in all sectors except clothing and manufacturing.
During the given period, exports in metals sector jumped to $5.1 HK billions with an increase of 122% since 2009. Following the metals sector were telecommunication and equipment with growth of 61% and 13% respectively.
Apart from the increase, exports also witnessed decline in sectors like clothing and manufacturing. The exports data dropped from 5.5 HK billion in 2009 to 4 HK billion in 2010, marking a decrease of 27%. On the similar lines, clothing exports faced a reduction of 1 HK billion during the period.
If we look at the overall numbers, the exports rose from 32 HK billion in 2009 to 38.4 HK billion in 2010 which shows a rise of 20%
Nice work, Simmi!
Really good overview and nice accuracy in general.
The given table illustrate the $HK billions changes in export from 2009 to 2010. Overall, changes in $HK billion have an upward trend during this period and metals had by far the largest while other had comparatively slight increase, expect for the clothing and manufacturing which experiencing a small drop off.
A more detailed look into the table, metals had changed significantly between 2009 and 2010 with 122% from the least exported quantity of 2.3 to 5.1 $HK billion. In contrast, equipment was initially the most being exported from 10.3 to 11.6 $HK billion whilst the proportion of change was only marginally at 13%. Followed by telecommunication which started at 7.9 and ended up at 12.7 $HK billion, accounting for 61% of the change and becoming the most exported item in 2010.
Finally, there were an increased trend in the total changes with 20% from 32 to 38.4 $HK billion, though the clothing and manufacturing reversed this trend with a slight decrease of 17% and 27% respectively.
Nice work, Tun!
Careful with your spelling at times – also some punctuation and subordinate clauses.
Keep working hard!