This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of Australian exports to Japan, the US, China, and India from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Task 1: Australian Exports

The line chart shows exports in billions of dollars.

The line chart details exports from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India from 1990 to 2012. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that total exports to India and particularly China rose, while US and Japanese exports declined. By the end of the period, Chinese exports had become most common, followed by Japanese, American, and finally Indian ones.

The figure for Japan began the period significantly higher than other nations at over 26% before a sharp decline over the next 5 years to around 20% and a more minimal downward trend until 2012 to finish at near 17%. In marked contrast, China in 1990 only received 3% of exports and this figure grew exponentially, especially after the year 2000 and reached a peak of 28% in 2012.

The data for the United States fluctuated around 10% until 2000, then declined and recovered slightly to finish the time surveyed at 6% Similarly, Indian exports stood at around 1% for the first ten years detailed, actually overtook the United States with 7% in 2010 and then ended the period slightly lower than the USA.

Analysis

1. The line chart details exports from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India from 1990 to 2012. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that total exports to India and particularly China rose, while US and Japanese exports declined. 3. By the end of the period, Chinese exports had become most common, followed by Japanese, American, and finally Indian ones.

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

1. The figure for Japan began the period significantly higher than other nations at over $26% before a sharp decline over the next 5 years to around $20% and a more minimal downward trend until 2012 to finish at near $17%. 2. In marked contrast, China in 1990 only received $3% of exports and this figure grew exponentially, especially after the year 2000 and reached a peak of $28% in 2012.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.

1. The data for the United States fluctuated around $10% until 2000, then declined and recovered slightly to finish the time surveyed at $6%. 2. Similarly, Indian exports stood at around $1% for the first ten years detailed, actually overtook the United States with $7% in 2010 and then ended the period slightly lower than the USA.

1. Write about the final, other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Don’t leave anything out!

Vocabulary

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

The line chart details exports from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India from 1990 to 2012. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that total exports to India and particularly China rose, while US and Japanese exports declined. By the end of the period, Chinese exports had become most common, followed by Japanese, American, and finally Indian ones.

The figure for Japan began the period significantly higher than other nations at over 26% before a sharp decline over the next 5 years to around 20% and a more minimal downward trend until 2012 to finish at near 17 billion. In marked contrast, China in 1990 only received 3% in exports and this figure grew exponentially, especially after the year 2000 and reached a peak of 28% in 2012.

The data for the United States fluctuated around 10% until 2000, then dropped and recovered slightly to conclude the time surveyed at 6%. Similarly, Indian exports stood at around 1% for the first ten years detailed, actually overtook the United States with 7% in 2010, and then ended the period slightly lower than the USA.

Answers

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

details shows

exports products sent out of a country to another country

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

particularly especially

declined decreased

By the end of the period at the end of the time shown

most common happened more often

followed by after that

finally in the end

figure data

period significantly time greatly

before prior to

sharp decline big fall

over the next 5 years to around for the next 5 years hovering at about

more minimal downward trend going down slightly for a while

near close to

In marked contrast much different

received got

grew exponentially increased a lot

especially in particular

reached a peak of got to high point of

data figure

fluctuated around erratic near

until up to

dropped fell a lot

recovered slightly came back up a little

conclude the time surveyed finish the chart at

Similarly the same as

stood at was at

for the first ten years detailed the initial decade shown

actually overtook in fact surpassed

ended finished

slightly lower a little less than

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz 
ˈɛkspɔːts 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt ˈtəʊtl ˈɛkspɔːts 
pəˈtɪkjʊləli 
dɪˈklaɪnd
baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
məʊst ˈkɒmən
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ 
ˈfaɪnəli 
ˈfɪgə 
ˈpɪərɪəd sɪgˈnɪfɪkəntli 
bɪˈfɔː 
ʃɑːp dɪˈklaɪn 
ˈəʊvə ðə nɛkst 5 jɪəz tuː əˈraʊnd 
mɔː ˈmɪnɪml ˈdaʊnwəd trɛnd 
nɪə 
ɪn mɑːkt ˈkɒntrɑːst
rɪˈsiːvd 
gruː ˌɛkspəˈnɛnʃ(ə)li
ɪsˈpɛʃəli 
riːʧt ə piːk ɒv 
ˈdeɪtə 
ˈflʌktjʊeɪtɪd əˈraʊnd 
ənˈtɪl 
drɒpt 
rɪˈkʌvəd ˈslaɪtli 
kənˈkluːd ðə taɪm sɜːˈveɪd 
ˈsɪmɪləli
stʊd æt 
fɔː ðə fɜːst tɛn jɪəz ˈdiːteɪld
ˈækʧʊəli ˌəʊvəˈtʊk 
ˈɛndɪd 
ˈslaɪtli ˈləʊə 

Vocabulary Practice

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

The line chart d_______s e_______s from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India from 1990 to 2012. L___________________________________________________________s to India and p__________y China rose, while US and Japanese exports d________d. B_________________________d, Chinese exports had become m_____________n, f_________________y Japanese, American, and finally Indian ones.

The f________e for Japan began the p___________d s________________y higher than other nations at over 26% b_______e a s____________e o________________________________d 20% and a m__________________________d until 2012 to finish at n_____r 17%. I______________________t, China in 1990 only r_________d 3% for exports and this figure g___________________y, e____________y after the year 2000 and r_____________________f 28% in 2012.

The d____a for the United States f__________________d 10% u______l 2000, then d________d and r____________________y to c___________________________d at 6%. S___________y, Indian exports s_____________t around 1% f_______________________________d, a_________________k the United States with 7% in 2010, and then e________d the period s_____________r than the USA.

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.china-briefing.com/news/opportunities-for-australian-businesses-in-china-in-2022/

Speaking Practice

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

Where you Live

1. Where is your hometown?
2. Would you like to live there in the future?
3. What don’t you like about your home?

Writing Practice

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

IELTS Essay Task 1: Exports Table