This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of urban and rural population trends and trends in age structure from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay Task 1: Urban and Rural Population Trends

The bar chart illustrates population trends globally by percentage from 1950 to 2040.

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

The line charts detail population trends relating to location and age globally from 1950 until 2040. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that urban populations have and will continue to constitute the majority of growth. In terms of age demographics, those 15-65 have become by far the largest group and this is predicted to remain the same in the future.

Turning first to urban residency in 1950, this figure began the period at 6%, just 1% above the statistic for the rural population. Over the ensuing years, urban numbers soared, rising by approximately 5% each decade until the present day. This trend is anticipated to continue and urban occupants should represent just under 40% by 2040. In contrast, rural populations were largely steady, increasing under a percentage point every 10 years and anticipated to reach 6% in 2040. The growth in total figures roughly mirror urban percentages but are 5-10% higher throughout.

The age distribution indicates clearly that those 15-65 (beginning at 6% in 1950) will become most common, rising close to 5% each decade with a likely high point of 35% by the end of the period surveyed. Those under 15 and over 65 display a broadly similar pattern at around 5% for the majority of the time described.

Analysis

1. The line charts detail population trends relating to location and age globally from 1950 until 2040. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that urban populations have and will continue to constitute the majority of growth. 3. In terms of age demographics, those 15-65 have become by far the largest group and this is predicted to remain the same in the future.

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

1. Turning first to urban residency in 1950, this figure began the period at 6%, just 1% above the statistic for the rural population. 2. Over the ensuing years, urban numbers soared, rising by approximately 5% each decade until the present day. 3. This trend is anticipated to continue and urban occupants should represent just under 40% by 2040. 4. In contrast, rural populations were largely steady, increasing under a percentage point every 10 years and anticipated to reach 6% in 2040. 5. The growth in total figures roughly mirror urban percentages but are 5-10% higher throughout.

  1. Begin writing about the data for the first category.
  2. Continue describing it.
  3. Keep describing the data.
  4. Compare to the other lines.
  5. Make sure everything is detailed.

1. The age distribution indicates clearly that those 15-65 (beginning at 6% in 1950) will become most common, rising close to 5% each decade with a likely high point of 35% by the end of the period surveyed. 2. Those under 15 and over 65 display a broadly similar pattern at around 5% for the majority of the time described.

  1. Write about the final other parts of the line graph – include everything!
  2. There is a lot of data in this one but try to get to all of it.

Vocabulary

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

The line charts detail population trends relating to location and age globally from 1950 until 2040. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that urban populations have and will continue to constitute the majority of growth. In terms of age demographics, those 15-65 have become by far the largest group and this is predicted to remain the same in the future.

Turning first to urban residency in 1950, this figure began the period at 6%, just 1% above the statistic for the rural population. Over the ensuing years, urban numbers soared, rising by approximately 5% each decade until the present day. This trend is anticipated to continue and urban occupants should represent just under 40% by 2040. In contrast, rural populations were largely steady, increasing under a percentage point every 10 years and anticipated to reach 6% in 2040. The growth in total figures roughly mirror urban percentages but are 5-10% higher throughout.

The age distribution indicates clearly that those 15-65 (beginning at 6% in 1950) will become most common, rising close to 5% each decade with a likely high point of 35% by the end of the period surveyed. Those under 15 and over 65 display a broadly similar pattern at around 5% for the majority of the time described.

Answers

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

detail illustrate

population trends patterns for how many people

globally around the world

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

constitute make up

majority most of

growth increase

In terms of when it comes to

demographics groups of people

by far a lot more than

predicted expected to

remain stay the same

in the future later

turning first to considering firstly

residency living there

figure number

period time given

above over

statistic figure

over the ensuing years during the next span of time

soared increased a lot

rising increasing

approximately around

each decade every 10 years

until the present day up until now

anticipated predicted

continue keep going

occupants people living there

represent stand for

largely steady mostly unchanged

under a percentage point every 10 years less than 1% each decade

anticipated expected

reach get to

roughly mirror almost the same as

higher throughout above it the whole time

distribution how it is spread out

indicates clearly shows definitely

common ubiquitous

with a likely high point of probably reaching the top at

by the end of the period surveyed for the whole time detailed

display a broadly similar pattern has almost the same trend

majority most of

described shown

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪl 
ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən trɛndz 
ˈgləʊbəli 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt ˈɜːbən 
ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt 
məˈʤɒrɪti 
grəʊθ
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ˌdɛməˈgræfɪks
baɪ fɑː 
prɪˈdɪktɪd 
rɪˈmeɪn 
ɪn ðə ˈfjuːʧə
ˈtɜːnɪŋ fɜːst tuː 
ˈrɛzɪdənsi 
ˈfɪgə 
ˈpɪərɪəd 
əˈbʌv 
stəˈtɪstɪk 
ˈəʊvə ði ɪnˈsjuːɪŋ jɪəz
sɔːd
ˈraɪzɪŋ 
əˈprɒksɪmɪtli 
iːʧ ˈdɛkeɪd 
ənˈtɪl ðə ˈprɛznt deɪ
ænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪd 
kənˈtɪnju(ː) 
ˈɒkjʊpənts 
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt 
ˈlɑːʤli ˈstɛdi
ˈʌndər ə pəˈsɛntɪʤ pɔɪnt ˈɛvri tenjɪəz 
ænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪd 
riːʧ 
ˈrʌfli ˈmɪrə 
ˈhaɪə θru(ː)ˈaʊt
ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən 
ˈɪndɪkeɪts ˈklɪəli 
ˈkɒmən
wɪð ə ˈlaɪkli haɪ pɔɪnt ɒv 
baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪərɪəd sɜːˈveɪd
dɪsˈpleɪ ə ˈbrɔːdli ˈsɪmɪlə ˈpætən 
məˈʤɒrɪti 
dɪsˈkraɪbd

Vocabulary Practice

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

The line charts d_______l p_____________________s relating to location and age g___________y from 1950 until 2040. L_________________________________________________t u_______n populations have and will continue to c____________e the m_________y of g_______h. I_________________f age d_____________s, those 15-65 have become b_____r the largest group and this is p__________d to r________n the same i_____________e.

T________________o urban r__________y in 1950, this f________e began the p_______d at 6%, just 1% a_______e the s_________c for the rural population. O____________________________s, urban numbers s________d, r_______g by a______________________y 5% e__________________________________y. This trend is a___________d to c__________e and urban o___________s should r__________t just under 40% by 2040. In contrast, rural populations were l________________y, increasing u___________________________________________s and a____________d to r______h 6% in 2040. The growth in total figures r_____________________r urban percentages but are 5-10% h____________________t.

The age d______________n i______________________y that those 15-65 (beginning at 6% in 1950) will become most c________n, rising close to 5% each decade w________________________________f 35% b______________________________________d. Those under 15 and over 65 d___________________________________n at around 5% for the m___________y of the time d__________d.

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.irishtimes.com/opinion/david-mcwilliams-the-global-population-will-soon-fall-and-this-will-change-the-world-1.4627666

Speaking Practice

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

Countryside

  1. Why is the country quieter than the city?
  2. Why do many people prefer to live in the countryside?
  3. Where are the quietest places in cities?
  4. What will the countryside look like in your country in the future?
  5. Are there any drawbacks to investing in public transport in the countryside?

Writing Practice

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

IELTS 16 Essay: Ownership of Electrical Appliances Line Chart

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