This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a comparison of energy production.

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IELTS Task 1: Comparison of Energy Production

The pie charts show information about energy production in a country in two separate years.

IELTS WRITING TASK 1 – Pie Chart Model Score 9

The pie charts detail the distribution of various energy sources in a given nation in the years 1995 and 2005. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that production of two main energies (coal and gas) rose marginally, while petrol declined considerably. ‘Other’ and nuclear production also grew greatly, despite remaining less popular in both years.

In 1995, coal, gas, and petrol were roughly equal in terms of energy production with each slightly above 29%. By 2005, the figures for coal and gas had risen moderately (30.93% and 30.31%, respectively) while petrol exploitation declined to represent just 19.55% of all sources.

The data for the remaining categories was considerably lower with ‘other’ accounting for 4.9% of energy production to begin the period and nuclear noticeably higher at 6.4%. By 2005, ‘other’ had narrowed the disparity and nearly doubled to 9.1% as nuclear energy use grew more slowly to reach 10.1%.

Analysis

1. The pie charts detail the distribution of various energy sources in a given nation in the years 1995 and 2005. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that production of two main energies (coal and gas) rose marginally, while petrol declined considerably. 3. ‘Other’ and nuclear production also grew greatly, despite remaining less popular in both years.

  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 1995, coal, gas, and petrol were roughly equal in terms of energy production with each slightly above 29%. 2. By 2005, the figures for coal and gas had risen moderately (30.93% and 30.31%, respectively) while petrol exploitation declined to represent just 19.55% of all sources.

  1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
  2. Compare between each sentence.

1. The data for the remaining categories was considerably lower with ‘other’ accounting for 4.9% of energy production to begin the period and nuclear noticeably higher at 6.4%. 2. By 2005, ‘other’ had narrowed the disparity and nearly doubled to 9.1% as nuclear energy use grew more slowly to reach 10.1%.

  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 pie charts detail the distribution of various energy sources in a given nation in the years 1995 and 2005. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that production of two main energies (coal and gas) rose marginally, while petrol declined considerably. ‘Other’ and nuclear production also grew greatly, despite remaining less popular in both years.

In 1995, coal, gas, and petrol were roughly equal in terms of energy production with each slightly above 29%. By 2005, the figures for coal and gas had risen moderately (30.93% and 30.31%, respectively) while petrol exploitation declined to represent just 19.55% of all sources.

The data for the remaining categories was considerably lower with ‘other’ accounting for 4.9% of energy production to begin the period and nuclear noticeably higher at 6.4%. By 2005, ‘other’ had narrowed the disparity and nearly doubled to 9.1% as nuclear energy use grew more slowly to reach 10.1%.

Answers

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

detail show

distribution how it is allocated to each category

various energy sources in a given nation where energy comes from in a country

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

rose marginally increased a bit

petrol declined considerably gas went down a lot

nuclear related to radiation and uranium

grew greatly increased a lot

despite remaining less popular in both years regardless of being less common in each time period

roughly equal in terms of about the same concerning

slightly above just a bit over

figures numbers

had risen moderately had increased a bit

respectively in turn

exploitation declined taking advantage of decreased

represent just stand for only

data figures

remaining categories extra areas

considerably lower with much less than

accounting for representing

to begin the period starting the time at

noticeably higher at much bigger at

narrowed the disparity came much closer to each other, to being equal

nearly doubled almost 2x

grew more slowly to reach increased slightly to get to

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪl 
ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən 
ˈveərɪəs ˈɛnəʤi ˈsɔːsɪz ɪn ə ˈgɪvn ˈneɪʃən 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
rəʊz ˈmɑːʤɪnəli
ˈpɛtrəl dɪˈklaɪnd kənˈsɪdərəbli
ˈnjuːklɪə 
gruː ˈgreɪtli
dɪsˈpaɪt rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ lɛs ˈpɒpjʊlər ɪn bəʊθ jɪəz
ˈrʌfli ˈiːkwəl ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ˈslaɪtli əˈbʌv 
ˈfɪgəz 
hæd ˈrɪzn ˈmɒdərɪtli 
rɪsˈpɛktɪvli
ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃən dɪˈklaɪnd 
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt ʤʌst 
ˈdeɪtə 
rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ ˈkætɪgəriz 
kənˈsɪdərəbli ˈləʊə wɪð 
əˈkaʊntɪŋ fɔː 
tuː bɪˈgɪn ðə ˈpɪərɪəd 
ˈnəʊtɪsəbli ˈhaɪər æt 
ˈnærəʊd ðə dɪsˈpærɪti 
ˈnɪəli ˈdʌbld 
gruː mɔː ˈsləʊli tuː riːʧ 

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 pie charts d_______l the d______________n of v_________________________________________n in the years 1995 and 2005. L______________________________________________t production of two main energies (coal and gas) r______________y, while p______________________________y. ‘Other’ and n___________r production also g____________y, d___________________________________s.

In 1995, coal, gas, and petrol were r_________________________f energy production with each s____________e 29%. By 2005, the f_________s for coal and gas h______________________y (30.93% and 30.31%, r_____________y) while petrol e_______________________d to r___________t 19.55% of all sources.

The d_____a for the r___________________________s was c_____________________________h ‘other’ a____________________r 4.9% of energy production t______________________d and nuclear n_______________________t 6.4%. By 2005, ‘other’ had n________________________y and n_______________d to 9.1% as nuclear energy use g_____________________________h 10.1%.

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://www.euronews.com/next/2022/12/05/norways-energy-paradox-how-oil-and-gas-are-at-odds-with-green-tech-start-ups

Speaking Practice

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

Environment

  1. How are environmental problems dealt with in your country?
  2. What can be done to make people recycle more often?
  3. What is the most pressing environmental problem?
  4. Is recycling a common practice in your country?
  5. Are governments or individuals more responsible?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

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