This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of average daily sales by serving from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Task 1 Essay: Average Daily Sales by Serving

The bar chart details average daily sales (by total number of servings) at a restaurant according to season. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that warmer food products where much more popular in the winter, while the inverse is true in the summer. Hot coffee is the most common order generally and salads’ popularity does not vary according to the season.

There are approximately 75 servings of hot coffee sold during the winter and just 30 in the summer. Similarly, soup is twice as popular in the summer months with 50 orders compared to only 25 in winter.

In contrast, there are hardly any iced coffees sold in winter and nearly 40 purchased in the summer. This is comparable to ice creams bought (38 in summer) though the winter figure is relatively high (27). The only exception to the pattern of seasonal ordering is salads with roughly 25 orders for each half of the year.

Analysis

1. The bar chart details average daily sales (by total number of servings) at a restaurant according to season. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that warmer food products where much more popular in the winter, while the inverse is true in the summer. 3. Hot coffee is the most common order generally and salads’ popularity does not vary according to the season.

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. There are approximately 75 servings of hot coffee sold during the winter and just 30 in the summer. 2. Similarly, soup is twice as popular in the summer months with 50 orders compared to only 25 in winter.

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

1. In contrast, there are hardly any iced coffees sold in winter and nearly 40 purchased in the summer. 2. This is comparable to ice creams bought (38 in summer) though the winter figure is relatively high (27). 3. The only exception to the pattern of seasonal ordering is salads with roughly 25 orders for each half of the year.

1. Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Include all the data.
3. Mention any exceptions.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The bar chart details average daily sales (by total number of servings) at a restaurant according to season. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that warmer food products where much more popular in the winter, while the inverse is true in the summer. Hot coffee is the most common order generally and salads’ popularity does not vary according to the season.

There are approximately 75 servings of hot coffee sold during the winter and just 30 in the summer. Similarly, soup is twice as popular in the summer months with 50 orders compared to only 25 in winter.

In contrast, there are hardly any iced coffees sold in winter and nearly 40 purchased in the summer. This is comparable to ice creams bought (38 in summer) though the winter figure is relatively high (27). The only exception to the pattern of seasonal ordering is salads with roughly 25 orders for each half of the year.

Answers

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

details average daily sales shows how much was sold per day

total number of servings number of items sold

according to season depending on the time of year

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

winter colder months

while the inverse is true in but the opposite is true for

summer warmer months

common popular

generally slowly

popularity how common it is

not vary according to the season not change because of the weather

approximately about

just only

Similarly not different

twice as popular in two times as common

compared to only relative to just

In contrast in comparison

hardly only just

comparable to similar to

though but

relatively high comparably bigger

The only exception to the pattern the only different area is

seasonal by the season

roughly about

half 50%

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz ˈævᵊrɪʤ ˈdeɪli seɪlz 
ˈtəʊtᵊl ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈsɜːvɪŋz
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː ˈsiːzᵊn 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt 
ˈwɪntə 
waɪl ði ɪnˈvɜːs ɪz truː ɪn 
ˈsʌmə 
ˈkɒmən 
ˈʤɛnərəli 
ˌpɒpjəˈlærəti 
nɒt ˈveəri əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː ðə ˈsiːzᵊn
əˈprɒksɪmɪtli 
ʤʌst 
ˈsɪmɪləli
twaɪs æz ˈpɒpjələr ɪn 
kəmˈpeəd tuː ˈəʊnli 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst 
ˈhɑːdli 
ˈkɒmpərəbᵊl tuː 
ðəʊ 
ˈrɛlətɪvli haɪ 
ði ˈəʊnli ɪkˈsɛpʃᵊn tuː ðə ˈpætᵊn 
ˈsiːzᵊnᵊl 
ˈrʌfli 
hɑːf 

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 bar chart d_______________________s (by t__________________s) at a restaurant a______________________n. L____________________________________________________________t warmer food products where much more popular in the w_______r, w____________________n the s________r. Hot coffee is the most c_________n order g___________y and salads’ p_________y does n_____________________________________n.

There are a______________y 75 servings of hot coffee sold during the winter and j___t 30 in the summer. S__________y, soup is t______________n the summer months with 50 orders c______________y 25 in winter.

I____________t, there are h________y any iced coffees sold in winter and nearly 40 purchased in the summer. This is c________________o ice creams bought (38 in summer) t__________h the winter figure is r______________h (27). T________________________________n of s_________l ordering is salads with r___________y 25 orders for each half of the year.

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.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/top-winter-recipes

Speaking Practice

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

Restaurants

1. Do you enjoy dining out at restaurants?
2. What are some factors that you consider when choosing a restaurant to dine at?
3. Can you describe a memorable dining experience you’ve had at a restaurant?
4. In your opinion, what makes a restaurant stand out?